Roughly how many metropolitan police agencies employ just one sworn officer?

The correct answer indicates that approximately 650 metropolitan police agencies employ just one sworn officer. This figure can be understood in the context of law enforcement structure in smaller municipalities and rural areas. Many smaller towns establish their own police departments even when the population size does not necessitate a full agency. In such cases, these agencies often operate with minimal staffing, sometimes designating only one sworn officer to fulfill all policing duties.

This reflects a broader trend where smaller jurisdictions opt for their own police services rather than relying on county or state law enforcement, which can lead to a significant number of these minimal agencies existing across the nation. The other figures, such as 10, 100, or 8,000, either underestimate or overestimate the reality of policing at the municipal level, not accurately capturing the prevalence of single-officer police departments.