The funny thing is that if he had merely walked into the town police station and said he wanted to be a “volunteer”...they would have accepted him warmly. And in a year or two....he would have been “qualified” and able to conduct arrests. Most police units throughout the US are short-manned and always appreciate a volunteer.
Its interesting that he never took a penny from the town. And you have to wonder how he worked to pay bills.
Probably shook down drug dealers.