MuskogeePhoenix.com, Muskogee, OK

Editorials

Discussion

November 7, 2009

Rural police protection

Muskogee County officials should look at a countywide police force, a department that also provides law enforcement services to small towns.

Today’s Sunday Extra details the challenges small towns face in funding and operating police departments. In Muskogee County, Braggs and Webbers Falls have had trouble keeping their departments in operation.

The Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office now provides police protection to towns without their own departments. The office also covers when town police are off-duty or on vacation. But the Sheriff’s Office doesn’t receive any extra compensation for that extra service.

It makes sense that small towns in the county could contribute to a fund that would help support law enforcement in their town and surrounding area. The town/county cooperation should be less expensive for towns and county than it is in maintaining separate departments.

Naturally, some towns will resist the proposal. That’s probably a result of resistance to change, though, rather than many valid objections to the idea.

The proposal is worth more consideration and discussion.

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Editorials