AGENDA DATE: 10/5/2016
TITLE:
Title
Law Enforcement Mutual Aid Agreement Between the County and the Town of Scottsville
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Resolution approving a Mutual Aid Agreement between the County and the Town of Scottsville.
ITEM TYPE: Consent Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Foley, Walker, Kamptner, DeLoria, Lantz, Jenkins
PRESENTER (S): N/A
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Thomas C. Foley
BACKGROUND: The Albemarle County Police Department (“ACPD”) has full jurisdiction within the Town of Scottsville (“Town”). However, due to the remote location of southern Albemarle, the three sworn police officers from the Town are routinely asked to assist or back-up ACPD officers outside of Scottsville. In an effort to insure that these officers operate within the guidelines of ACPD policy while assisting the ACPD outside of Scottsville, Scottsville Mayor Nancy Gill and Scottsville Police Chief Robert Layman have requested that the County and the Town enter into a Mutual Aid Agreement (Attachment A) pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 15.2-1726 and 15.2-1736, which authorize the governing bodies of the County and Town to enter into reciprocal aid agreements. There is no such agreement between the County and the Town. The Board has not previously reviewed or acted upon this issue. A Mutual Aid Agreement between the County and the Town would be entered into for emergency purposes, for maintenance of peace and good order, for officer safety purposes, and for the best facilitation of cooperation in the furnishing of police services, and would insure that officers from the Town operate under the umbrella of the APCD when serving outside of Scottsville.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Operational Capacity: Ensure County government’s ability to provide high quality service that achieves community priorities.
DISCUSSION: Currently, Scottsville police officers and ACPD officers often work together. However, there is no formalized agreement or understanding between the two entities regarding aid across jurisdictional boundaries. This Mutual Aid Agreement provides that framework. It will increase the County’s ability to respond to law enforcement emergencies involving immediate threats to life or public safety and will assist in the preservation of public safety and the welfare of southern Albemarle County. Town staff has stated that the Town Council supports the Agreement. The Town Council is expected to hold a work session regarding the Agreement on October 11, 2016 and to approve the Agreement on October 17, 2016. The citizens of southern Albemarle County will benefit from the shorter response times, and ACPD officers will have additional back-up as needed. There are no negative impacts or costs associated with the implementation of this Agreement. Virginia Code §§ 15.2-1726 and 15.2-1736 authorize the governing bodies of a County and Town to enter into reciprocal agreements. It is the conclusion of ACPD staff that this Agreement will allow for improved responses to emergency calls in southern Albemarle County, and that response times and back-up for ACPD officers will be enhanced when this Agreement is implemented.
BUDGET IMPACT: This MOU may save some costs associated with fuel for patrol vehicles as a second ACPD officer may not be required to respond to calls if a Scottsville officer responds.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Board adopt the attached Resolution approving the Mutual Aid Agreement and authorizing the County Executive to execute the Agreement after approval as to form and substance by the County Attorney.
ATTACHMENTS:
A - Mutual Aid Agreement
B - Resolution