Pat Novesky - Rural Policing

Rural Policing
with Pat Novesky

As we look back on our nation’s history we think of lawmen of the early days, the lone officer riding horseback from town to town to keep the peace. If you work in a rural area you probably feel the same way at times. It can be no fun being out there alone.

As a result we learn our own tricks to keep ourselves out of trouble. Grabbing the microphone on your portable and talking to your imaginary backup in front of your suspect may have kept you from a fight or two. Out of radio range quite a bit? That’s why you have that voice-activated recorder in your shirt pocket. If the worst happens, that “black box” can document quite a bit of information about your last contact.

What about stirring up the gravel a bit as you follow that suspicious car down those dirt roads? Your backup can follow those fresh tracks and find you. There are administrative headaches that can make the job a bit difficult for us also, like working with small town district attorneys and judges or that sheriff who says, “That stuff doesn’t happen here.”

These are all issues worthy of discussion, so please e-mail us your concerns, tips, and questions relating to rural law enforcement and we will create a forum that will help us maintain our tactical edge in this unique environment.

Contact Patrick Novesky

In-car computers and officer safety - 05/22/2012 Comments

A stubborn country cop learns to live with technology - 04/24/2012 Comments

Treating the administrative migraine - 11/18/2011 Comments

10 years after 9/11: Terrorism in rural communities and remote areas - 07/08/2011 Comments

A simple cold weather survival kit for cops - 02/18/2011 Comments

Rural Metro: Working with backup from other agencies - 12/27/2010 Comments

Reducing the dangers of lone-officer contacts - 08/13/2010 Comments

Big busts in the 'burbs, part two - 04/27/2010

Off duty in rural America - 03/26/2010 Comments

Taking responsibility for training when your boss won't - 02/26/2010 Comments

Subdivisions: Big busts in the 'burbs - 02/01/2010

When "Rambo" becomes reality - 09/18/2009 Comments

Policing small-town Gotham City - 08/14/2009 Comments

Policing rural America: Soft target terrorism - 07/10/2009

Policing rural America: Lone officer vehicle contacts - 05/22/2009 Comments

Policing rural America - 05/14/2009

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