Regionalization and Interagency Relationships Among Police Departments in Small and Rural Areas of Pennsylvania

• In Event: Rural Policing and Social Control

Abstract

The majority of police departments in the United States are located in small and rural areas, with far fewer resources than their larger, urban counterparts. Consequently, many small and rural police departments rely on one another for assistance. Using a mixed-methods approach, this study explored regionalization and interagency cooperation in small and rural areas of Pennsylvania. In summer of 2020, 349 of the 733 chiefs were surveyed on service to and from other municipalities (among other items), and 53 police chiefs participated in follow-up interviews about interagency partnerships. Results will be discussed in light of the literature.

Authors

• Jennifer Gibbs, Penn State Harrisburg

• Jennifer Schally, Penn State Harrisburg