By Hannah Curran, Editor
TRUSSVILLE — The city of Trussville entered a memorandum of understanding with the city of Irondale for the reciprocal use of police officers to assist in the investigation and completion of necessary reports on Tuesday, January 25.
According to the proclamation presented to the council members, Irondale and Trussville entered into a written contract, not to exceed three years, that states the two cities can join “with any one or more municipalities for the joint exercise of any power or service that state or local law authorizes each of the contracting entities to exercise individually, which contract may be renewed for an additional three years upon mutual consent.”
Both Irondale and Trussville recognize and agree that it is desirable to enter into this Common Services Agreement (CSA) for the mutual benefit of the cities in times of need, and the City of Trussville finds it is in the best interest of the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens and employees to approve and authorize the execution of this CSA.
Related Story: Trussville City Council approved rezoned properties, approved application for the ‘Public Building Authority’ board of directors
Trussville Police Department’s Cheif Eric Rush explained that the agreement is better and more efficient because Irondale is closer in proximity to Trussville.
“The reports come faster and there’s not as much red tape,” Rush said. “There’s not as many hoops to jump through to get the report.”
Trussville Mayor Buddy Choat said he wants the city of Trussville to be a good neighbor to Irondale and help where they can.
“We’d like to be good neighbors and we shared the jail with them anyway,” Choat said. “If it’s good for us, and it’s good for Irondale, it’s kind of a no-brainer for us today.”
It is agreed by and between the parties documented that each of the cities agrees to assist the other under the following stipulations, provisions, and conditions:
- The purpose of this agreement is to provide reciprocal police assistance to the other when a vehicle(s) of either department is involved in a vehicular accident. This will increase efficiency for the departments through the increase of response times and speed in obtaining accident reports.
- Assistance shall be provided by one party to the other party when the party has a police vehicle involved in a vehicular accident. The assistance will be provided on a first response basis utilizing the nearest units to the incident to assist the department that has been involved in the accident.
- The amount of personnel dispatched by the responding agency is at the discretion of the responding agency consistent with the public safety within the responding party’s area of primary responsibility. The minimum response will be one (1) police cruiser, provided, however, should the responding agency be involved in an emergency operation at the time of receiving the request for assistance, the response may be delayed. In the event that the responding agency becomes aware of an emergency within their area of primary responsibility, then the responding agency may recall whatever personnel may be needed to address the emergency within the responding agency’s city.
- No department, officer, or employee of either party to this agreement shall perform duties that is not within the scope of their department and/or duties. If the department, officer, or employee does not perform within the scope of their department and/or duties they will respond to their primary department.
- Trussville Police Department and Irondale Police Department have the full power and authority to within the jurisdictions of the other to the extent necessary to carry out the purposes of this agreement.
- Persons employed by Irondale or Trussville, cannot claim benefits outside of their primary area; such as, claim to pension, workman’s compensation, unemployment compensation, civil service, or other employee rights or privileges granted by operation of law or otherwise by the other entity to its officers and employees.
- If any provision of this agreement is declared by a court having jurisdiction to be illegal or in conflict with any law, the court will redact the provision, but the remaining terms and provisions will not be affected.
Liabilities and Responsibilities of Parties:
- Trussville and Ironale’s respective officers and employees will not be held responsible for the acts, omissions, and negligence of the other party.
- All of the privileges and immunities from liability, ordinances and rules, and all pensions and relief, disability, workman’s compensation and other benefits which apply to the activity of officers or employees of either party when performing their duties inside their primary areas will apply to the same extent outside of their primary area.
- Each party has to have insurance to cover their personal and equipment. Also, each party has to provide their primary departments will have the cost of gas other expendable supplies that are required for operation.
- Trussville and Irondale is not expected to pay each other’s employee for assistance.