It's spreading: Yet another entire police department resigns due to budget cuts

MARBLE HILL, MO - According to a Facebook post from the Marble Hill Police Department in Missouri, the entire department tendered their resignations as of August 21st, reverting the city with a population of around 1,300 people dependent upon the Bollinger County Sheriff for police services.  

As reported by The Kansas City Star, the resignations, effective Aug. 23rd were linked to the city's budget constraints and the Sheriff's Department is working with the city officials to "negotiate a resolution to ensure that law enforcement services will continue to be provided." to the small city 115-miles south of St. Louis.

Bollinger County Sheriff Casey Graham said in a statement reported by The Standard-Democrat, “The Bollinger County Sheriff’s Office is currently in communication with City of Marble Hill officials to address this situation. We understand the concerns that may arise within the community and want to assure all residents that the Bollinger County Sheriff’s Office is committed to finding a viable solution. The Bollinger County Sheriff’s Office is confident that we can negotiate a resolution to ensure that law enforcement services will continue to be provided to the City of Marble Hill by our agency without interruption or interference in the daily operations already maintained.”

The Marble Hill Police Department consisted of Chief Kristin Nenninger, a single captain and two patrol officers according to outlet, and when reached for questions by the Standard-Democrat Nenninger referred reporters to Marble Hill city attorney Richard Whiffen.

In the post to Facebook, Nenninger wrote, “Dear Citizens of Marble Hill: I have tendered my resignation as Chief of Police. Effective August 23, 2024. It has been a great honor and privilege to serve you all. This decision did not come easy as I take my service as Police Officer and First Responder very seriously. I cannot faithfully support my Officers and provide you, the citizens of Marble Hill, with law enforcement services you all deserve due to the city putting constraints on the budget and cutting into the Police budget. For the same as I have already mentioned, Captain Gilliam has also tendered his resignation. The other officers have also resigned on their own accord. God Bless.”

Marble Hill is at least the third city in the past year to lose its police department in a mass resignation including Goodhue, MN in August of 2023, and Lansing, Iowa in July 2024.

According to The Christian Science Monitor, at least twelve other small towns have closed down their police forces in the past two years citing as examples Morris, Minnesota, and the neighboring towns of Limestone and Van Buren in Maine as well as Washburn, Illinois and Lott, Texas. Many point to collapsing budgets and citizens who can't afford higher taxes. Another key factor is the often highly capable and more affordable availability of County Sheriffs.
 

“You really can’t tell much of any difference,” Mayor Steve Forney of Washburn said. “The sheriff’s department is very responsive. I like it. I was always one who was very hesitant to go this direction, but I feel it’s working for us.”