Cops in the Wilderness
How the COVID-19 Pandemic Impacted Rural Policing

As cities emptied, the countryside changed—forever.

When the COVID-19 pandemic sent shockwaves through urban life, millions fled crowded cities for the open spaces of rural America. But what happened when the stressors of big-city living followed them into small-town communities? Cops in the Wilderness explores how the pandemic didn't just change public health—it transformed the very landscape of rural law enforcement.

Through sharp analysis and on-the-ground perspective, this book uncovers the hidden challenges faced by rural police departments as they grappled with:

• The urban-to-rural population shift and its impact on crime patterns

• Rising expectations and limited resources in small communities

• The ripple effects of social unrest, civil demonstrations, and political polarization

• A mental health and morale crisis among rural officers

• The new reality of policing in a post-pandemic world

With city-based pressures now spreading across once-quiet regions, rural law enforcement faces a future it never prepared for. This is a must-read for law enforcement professionals, policymakers, and citizens who want to understand how America’s policing landscape has fundamentally shifted—out of the cities and into the wild.