The city council of Moose Lake, Minnesota voted to disband the city’s entire 5-person police force due to budget concerns and staffing shortages.
High costs of the department, which accounted for nearly $900,000 or about one-third of the city’s $2.8 million budget, contributed to the decision.
Moose Lake City Administrator, Ellissa Owens reportedly said, “Public safety would have made up a major portion of Moose Lake’s $2.8 million 2024 budget — about $900,000 for a five-person force and part-time administrative support”
With only one officer left on the force after recent resignations, Moose Lake will now contract with the Carlton County Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement services.
The vote makes Moose Lake the latest Minnesota city to eliminate its police department following Goodhue, which also lost its entire police force in August.
Goodhue Mayor Ellen Anderson Buck, previously said, “I think we’re all a little bit blindsided by it, but we’re resilient, and we’re going to move forward,”
“I want to reiterate that we will have police coverage in the city of Goodhue,” she continued.
“That is not an issue,” emphasized the mayor.
The mayor expressed disappointment with the decision but said public safety would still be ensured.
The Star Tribune reported that “prisoners of the Minnesota Correctional Facility and residents of the Minnesota Sex Offender Program” combine to “make up about half of the city’s population.”
Moose Lake Mayor Ted Shaw said, “That tells you there is a real problem with inflation and budget and state supports.”
“Something isn’t right,” he added.
He noted the trend of closed departments points to issues with state support and inflation affecting municipal budgets.
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