NCJ Number
191786
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 49 Issue: 4 Dated: April 2001 Pages: 107-110
Date Published
April 2001
Length
4 pages
Annotation
The author, the one police officer in Baggs, Wyoming, describes his experiences as the lone police officer in town, and provides advice on the qualifications and performance of such an officer.
Abstract
The ideal candidate for the "one cop shop" is a person who has been in the business for a few years and can function independently. The candidate will be over 40 years old and can maintain good public relations with the community; tact and diplomacy are essential. Physical fitness is a must, due to the lack of back-up. Lone officers must maintain other interests, since slow-paced activities can produce some stagnancy. Officers who serve in a one-cop town must be prepared for the lack of status and importance accorded them by administrators of agencies considered prestigious. The solo officer must guard his personal life and family time. Having an uninterrupted day off will require getting out of town entirely. Routine administrative calls and demands from the public will require working mostly day shifts. Priority tasks include catching speeders coming through town on the main highway as well as animal control. Involving youth in constructive activities is an important element of delinquency prevention. The author was involved in organizing the Baggs Youth Soccer league. Overall, the solo officer must be diplomatic and flexible in law enforcement, while being firm in resisting unreasonable demands by town leaders and residents on his or her time.