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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. She’s had a front-row seat observing rural agencies – local, state and federal – from the Sierra foothills to California’s notorious Emerald Triangle, for more than 30 years.

LATEST ARTICLES
If officers work at will, then every cop is one bad boss, one ‘wrong’ arrest or one citizen complaint away from the unemployment rolls
A lot can go down when backup is two hours away
Some of the reforms being proposed nationwide seem more like fantasy than realistic goals for rural law enforcement
It is likely that more than one officer will be involved in most critical incidents, which can cripple staffing in a small department
From chief to CHP officer to game warden, female cops patrol some of the most rural spots in the nation
Of the 285 officers shot in 2019, nearly a quarter of them were policing towns with fewer than 11,000 people
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
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
Rural cops routinely encounter violence related to anti-government sentiment
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