Kathleen Dias

Policing the Remote and Rural

Kathleen Dias writes features and news analysis on topics of concern to law enforcement professionals serving in rural and remote locations. She uses her background in writing, teaching and marketing to advocate for professional levels of training and equipment for rural officers, open channels of communication for isolated departments, and dispel myths about rural policing.

In this column, Kathleen explores topics relevant to law enforcement professionals in small communities, and rural and remote locations. The challenges facing rural officers in the 21st-century increase with each news cycle. This column addresses these challenges one by one, opening up new channels for discussion.

Full list of Kathleen Dias results

Why rural officers need workplace protections
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If officers work at will, then every cop is one bad boss, one 'wrong' arrest or one citizen complaint away from the unemployment rolls
Why de-escalation is a rural cop's lifeline
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A lot can go down when backup is two hours away
Why rural agencies face the most challenges from police reform
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Some of the reforms being proposed nationwide seem more like fantasy than realistic goals for rural law enforcement
Why even the smallest agency needs a critical incident response plan
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It is likely that more than one officer will be involved in most critical incidents, which can cripple staffing in a small department
Women in rural law enforcement
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From chief to CHP officer to game warden, female cops patrol some of the most rural spots in the nation
Why officers’ lives depend on dispelling the cliche that ‘nothing ever happens in small towns’
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Of the 285 officers shot in 2019, nearly a quarter of them were policing towns with fewer than 11,000 people
Giving a voice to the silent majority: Rural police leaders share challenges ahead
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Out of a series of conversations between the feds and rural cops comes a report detailing the dire issues facing those who police small-town America
The risks rural officers face from COVID-19
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As all first responders gear up to respond to the impact of a global pandemic, rural and small agencies face significant challenges unique to their communities
3 things cops learn at rural agencies
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Policing looks different when the guy you arrested at the bar fight last Friday asks if you need help today
Learning from deadly LE encounters in rural America
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Rural cops routinely encounter violence related to anti-government sentiment
A letter to the American public: Why you must decide what you want from cops
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If you recruit well, conduct thorough background checks and train constantly, you can have a human with a kind heart and good ethics – but you can't have perfection
Overcoming obstacles to rural recruiting
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You’re not competing with Piggly Wiggly or Burger King for applicants – you’re competing with every LE agency within reasonable commuting distance
Rural recordings
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With clear planning and due diligence, rural departments can successfully launch a body-worn camera program
10 things your agency should be paying for
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It is hard to believe that in 2019, there are still law enforcement agencies failing to provide basic equipment and training for their officers