There’s a world of difference between policing Vail and Cañon City. That’s what Cañon City’s police chief told the local paper last week.

Okay, not so shocking. But the example chief Daric Harvey – who has been leading the department for close to six months after serving in Vail’s police department for five years – gives in a Q&A for the Cañon City Daily Record is as insightful into the spectrum of rural Colorado as it is entertaining:

“Because of Vail’s demographics you have the top one percent of the wealthy worldwide who live there. They have different issues such as wanting to prosecute someone to the fullest for parking in their $150,000 parking spot. That was part of the attraction to come to Cañon City. To get back into the realm of law enforcement that makes a difference in people’s daily lives, like bringing justice to someone who had been physically assaulted or their home violated.”

There aren’t many six-figure parking disputes in the southeastern Colorado town where the estimated income per capita is just more than $22,000. But that doesn’t mean some of the issues that affect wealthier or more urban areas don’t touch places like Cañon City.

Norden asked whether the criticism of law enforcement for brutality and racism impacts recruiting in Cañon City. Harvey’s answer was that it is, but made it clear he’s not willing to take that ‘yes’ as far as the former FBI director:

“When James Comey was director of the FBI he said, ‘The national narrative that paints police officers as inherently corrupt, inherently racist, is having an effect. Why would they choose that profession when they could choose a different place to serve?’ I don’t think that’s a fair picture. The good news is that there have been conversations and policy practices that are changing that perception. Police officers are overwhelmingly good people who choose to serve to make a difference.”

Norden also asked about Amendment 64 has impacted the city. The chief said there are some traffic concerns involving marijuana, but heroin and meth are much bigger problems.