This page provides a basic overview of interlocal cooperation in law enforcement in Washington State, including examples of interlocal agreements between cities, counties, Indian tribes, or other government agencies.
It is part of MRSC's series on Interlocal Cooperation.
Overview
A city or town may provide law enforcement protection in a number of different ways. The traditional and most common way is to establish a municipal police department under the direction of a locally appointed police chief or marshal.
Meanwhile, counties provide law enforcement through the sheriff's office.
Many small communities and even several larger ones enter into a contractual arrangement with another jurisdiction to provide law enforcement services. Cities and towns typically contract with the county for police services or they may also contract with a neighboring city or town for service. The level of service and cost must be negotiated between the jurisdictions. In contracting for police protection a city or town may opt to appoint a city employee or officer to serve as chief law enforcement officer or as is most typically done designate an officer from the jurisdiction being contracted with to serve in that capacity.
Many municipalities also enter into mutual aid agreements with other cities, the county, or the state patrol to provide back-up assistance in emergency situations.
Interlocal Cooperation Statutes
Examples of Law Enforcement Service Contracts
Below are selected examples of interlocal agreements where one jurisdiction provides general law enforcement services for another. For examples of other agreements such as inmate housing, mutual aid agreements, tribal law enforcement, or other specific topics, see the sections below.
Counties Providing Law Enforcement Services
- Clallam County/Forks Law Enforcement Supplemental Staffing Agreement (2016) – County provides one or more deputies to supplement city police department staff as needed.
- King County Police Partnerships – Webpages provide an overview of law enforcement contractual services, including potential benefits and FAQs for prospective partners
- King County/Kirkland Seasonal Marine Patrol Services Agreement (2011) – County provides marine patrols during boating season (May 15-Sept. 15), with an emphasis on afternoon and early evening hours
- Pierce County/Roy Specialized Law Enforcement Services Agreement (2010) – County provides specialized law enforcement services to city regarding criminal investigations, canine services, bomb squads, meth labs, SWAT teams, and marine services/dive team; includes adopting resolution
- Skagit County/Concrete Law Enforcement Services Interlocal Agreement (2017) – County provides law enforcement to town
- Snohomish County/Stanwood Interlocal Agreement for Law Enforcement Services (2017) – County provides law enforcement to city; includes building credit for police facility owned by city and occupied by sheriff's office.
- Spokane County/Spokane Valley Law Enforcement Services Agreement (2017) – County provides law enforcement to city; exhibits include summary of services, staffing, workload indicators, and performance measures.
- Walla Walla County/Prescott Law Enforcement Services Agreement (2012) – County provides law enforcement to city
Cities Providing Law Enforcement Services
Cost Study
- Burien Provision of Police Service Assessment (2011) – Evaluates current contract with sheriff’s office compared to cost of establishing a police department; concludes that current contract is more cost-effective but that as the city grows an independent police department would become more cost-competitive
Examples of Mutual Aid Agreements
- Chelan County/Kittitas County Law Enforcement Mutual Aid Agreement (2015) – Agreement for Chelan County to respond to calls from the Colockum Pass Area within Kittitas County, which would otherwise have a long response time due to geographical barriers
- Clark/Skamania Counties Regional Major Crimes Team Agreement (2014) – Agreement between counties, cities, and WSU-Vancouver to provide for cooperative and coordinated investigations of major crimes, law enforcement-involved fatalities/injuries, or other serious incidents upon request of the primary jurisdiction
- King County Mutual Aid Law Enforcement Agreement (2013) – Agreement between the Washington State Patrol, the King County Sheriff, and the cities of Bellevue, Black Diamond, Bothell, Issaquah, Kirkland, Mercer Island, Redmond and Snoqualmie to provide law enforcement and mobilization in the Event of a law enforcement-involved fatal or serious injury incident.
- Pend Oreille County/Newport Mutual Aid Law Enforcement Agreement (2018) – Agreement between Pend Oreille County Sheriff's Office and the City of Newport Police Department
- Pullman/Lewiston, ID Interstate Law Enforcement Mutual Aid Agreement (2016)
- Sequim/Port Angeles Law Enforcement Mutual Aid Agreement (2016)
- Skagit County Law Enforcement Mutual Aid Agreement (2007) – Agreement between county and its four largest cities
- Southwest Regional SWAT/Negotiating Team/Tactical Emergency Medical Services Mutual Law Enforcement Assistance Agreement (2017) – Agreement between Battle Ground, Camas, Clark County, La Center, Ridgefield, Vancouver, Washougal and Washington State University
- Thurston County Mutual Aid Law Enforcement Agreement (2009) – Includes county, cities, and Evergreen State College
Examples of Dispatch/Communications Agreements
Below are selected examples of interlocal agreements for emergency communications and dispatch services. For more information on emergency communications, see our page Emergency Communication Services and Facilities.
Examples of Tribal Agreements
A number of cities and counties also have agreements with nearby Indian tribes for a variety of law enforcement services. Selected examples are below. For examples of tribal jail agreements, see our page Jail Services and Alternatives to Incarceration.
Examples of School Resource Officer Agreements
Examples of Regional Task Forces
Examples of Jail Service Agreements
For examples of interlocal agreements related to jails and inmates, see our page Jail Services and Alternatives to Incarceration.
Examples of Court Service Agreements
For examples of interlocal agreements related to court services, including prosecution, public defense, and indigent defense, see our page City and County Court Services.
Examples of Records Management/Software Agreements
For detailed guidance on law enforcement records laws, see our webpages on Law Enforcement Records Management and Disclosure.
Examples of Other Law Enforcement Agreements
Recommended Resources