There are a variety of trends that are making it increasingly difficult for small town law enforcement to traditionally provide services through an in-house, municipal police department. Incidents of crime are increasing in rural areas and the current means of providing services are becoming ineffective. Contracting for patrol services with county sheriffs’ offices or nearby municipal police departments is the most common method and is the easiest to implement, although its use is relatively limited. Consolidation or merger of small police departments in close proximity to each other is another strategy adopted by small communities. Contracting directly with certified police officers, a form of privatization, is generally a last resort strategy for the smallest of communities or is done to supplement in-house police services. Other private sector alternatives are difficult to undertake because of the political and legal obstacles involved. Mandates, limited resources, and economic slowdowns indicate a lack of feasibility in maintaining traditional in-house police departments. Community officials will need to generate creative solutions for maintaining adequate service levels at a reasonable cost. Implementation of alternatives to traditional police service models is a highly political undertaking affecting the identities of the communities involved. But such alternatives can facilitate effective services and preserve the identity of the community. Decisionmakers in small towns will need to be creative and innovative to adapt to meet the changing needs of their individual communities. 9 references, appendix