Lansing Police resignations leave city without local law enforcement presence

LANSING, Iowa. (WKBT) -- Come this Friday. Lansing's Police Department will be empty.

Lansing's Police Chief's last day was on June 26th and this Friday, exactly a month later, the department's two other officers' resignations will go into effect.

Although the city is sad to see them go, this tight knit community has each other's backs.

"And I guess we're governing, lawing ourselves," said Owen Buckmaster, owner of the Buck Stops.

Come this Friday. and Lansing's police department will be empty.

In a statement sent to News 8 Now, Lansing's Mayor confirmed the city's entire police force resigned.

"Our chief of police resigned a few weeks ago to assume the same position with the city of New Hampton, Iowa. Thereafter, one of our two remaining officers resigned to take an officer position, also in New Hampton. Our third individual submitted his resignation to return to EMS with Gundersen."

"Losing a few friends, for sure, that was the first thing that came to mind," said Buckmaster

Many residents like Buckmaster are sad to see the community lose their officers. They're also wondering what led to this.

"So just kind of curious as to what's going on with the city and the police force and why they weren't able to keep them and make things happen that way."

While the city looks for new officers, Allamakee County Sheriff's Office will be covering the city's law enforcement needs. But residents still have some concerns about what a lack of a city police department could mean.

"The big thing would just be speeders going through town in the middle of the night and just knowing that there's not a law there," said Buckmaster.

But with a population of under 1,000, residents are used to checking in on each other.

"At least up in my little neighborhood we're just a bunch of old people. You know if somebody does something wrong, we all know," Lansing resident John Blaess said.

And they're confident they can look after their own.

"Again, all Looking out for each other. It's almost like the town will be policing. There will be 998 police instead of 3," said Buckmaster.

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