ABSTRACT
Resources available in larger communities – such as specialised drug and driving under the influence courts, in-school social workers and access to public transportation – are often unavailable in smaller communities. For instance, when the author served as the police chief of a small community located in Central Illinois, similar-sized agencies within the county established a chiefs’ consortium, thus allowing the many small departments to consolidate their efforts in a number of areas. The intent was to allow police and fire personnel to administer the medication upon arrival. Yet, as in the case of so many other initiatives, rural and small-town departments lagged in terms of training and resources. The author could only imagine them sitting down with their wives after a difficult night only to come to the same conclusion that it was time to retire from the police force.
