Small Minnesota town will be without police after chief and officers resign, citing low pay

GOODHUE, Minn. (AP) — A small Minnesota town will soon be without a police department, an exodus spurred by low pay for the chief and his officers. Goodhue Police Chief Josh Smith and one other officer are still on the force, but only until their resignations become official on Aug. 23, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported. The council will seek extra enforcement from the Goodhue County Sheriff’s Office while town officials work to rebuild the department. “Trying to hire at $22 an hour, you’re never going to see another person again walk through those doors,” Smith told the council. Goodhue is the latest small Minnesota community that’s struggling to keep up with law enforcement demands amid increasing budget costs and an ongoing shortage of officers.