Blue Sheepdog

Small town policing offers many unique advantages, and challenges, that some of us don’t fully appreciate. Small towns often have lower crime rates, fewer paper calls, and are typically a little more appreciative of their officers. Larger departments normally get more resources, better training, and have back-up more readily available.

I’ve been fortunate enough to work in both a small department and a large department. Quite frankly, I like having back-up available.

I feel sorry for the cop in this news story. It seems right after he was hired by the Luthersville (GA) Police Department, his chief was arrested, and the only other member of the department resigned.

And you thought you had a tough gig?

Town becomes one-cop beat after two officers face charges

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 10/08/07

Matt Morgan had been a Luthersville police officer for less than a month when the rest of his three-man department became the subject of a criminal investigation.

A month later, his police chief and the other officer were arrested in connection with the alleged rape of a 21-year-old woman.

Now Morgan’s running the show by himself.

Luthersville Police Chief David Yates, 42, is charged with rape, violation of oath of office, false imprisonment and false imprisonment under color of legal process. The other officer, 32-year-old Jason Hardegree, is facing charges of influencing a witness and violation of oath of office.

Both men are out on bond, but Yates is on paid administrative leave and Hardegree resigned.

Their absence leaves Morgan, 23, as the lone Luthersville officer to patrol city streets.

“This has definitely been the most overwhelming experience,” said Morgan, who had two years of police work under his belt before coming to Luthersville. “As the only police officer in town, everybody’s depending on you.”

A neighboring agency, the Meriwether County Sheriff’s Office, has stepped in to fill the void. When Morgan is off duty, sheriff’s deputies respond to calls in the 800-population town 50 miles southwest of Atlanta. And Morgan calls them when he needs backup, which he’s done twice.

“The sheriff’s department has graciously offered to help,” Luthersville Mayor Robert Trammell said. “We’re very appreciative of that.”

For good reason. Trammell had no other options when authorities arrested Yates after they say he raped the Luthersville woman and arrested Hardegree on charges he tried to persuade the woman not to report it.

So far, Morgan has been busy handling the load for the department known for once employing vindicated Centennial Olympic Park bombing suspect Richard Jewell, who died in August.

“I’ve seen him pulling more people over than chief [did] the whole time he was here,” Luthersville resident Kristie Richard said.

Meanwhile, the town’s gossip mill has been churning about their tobacco-chewing chief who has a reputation as a flirt and suffers from multiple sclerosis. “Everybody always wants to know the skinny,” Morgan said.

His recent troubles have created an uncertain future for the Police Department. There has been talk of disbanding the department and turning police duties over to the sheriff’s department.But Morgan doesn’t have time to worry about that.

“Not having [Yates and Hardegree] around, at first it’s kind of difficult,” Morgan said. “But you adapt and get used to being a one-man show.”