Neighboring police collaboration increases public safety on Gulf Coast

Good neighbors help each other out when needed — maybe by loaning a cup of sugar — but for neighboring police departments, the way neighbors help each other is a little different, which can include using a neighbor’s helicopter, or putting on diving equipment and plunging into the bay.

Police departments and law enforcement agencies with bordering jurisdictions sign what is called a memorandum of understanding, which allows separate departments to work together to solve crimes or respond to emergencies.

“The Town of Longboat Key has Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with neighboring agencies. These agreements outline how departments assist each other during major incidents, investigations, and emergency responses,” said Longboat Key Police Chief Russ Mager. “They allow us to share personnel, resources, and information, including specialized units like our marine unit.”

Sarasota Police Chief Rex Troche and Mager both hailed the partnership their departments share, saying it increases public safety and that the departments are in constant communication, even sharing a radio system.

“Working with our neighboring agencies doesn’t stop at the city of Sarasota, town of Longboat Key or Sarasota County boundaries. The situations we face, whether it’s traffic, a crime or an emergency, can possibly have an impact on our entire area,” said Troche. “Partnering with our neighboring law enforcement agencies, including the town of Longboat Key, Florida Highway Patrol, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office and others, we can share resources and knowledge which ultimately make our communities safer.”

Some specific examples of cross-jurisdictional cooperation are during unique circumstances where one department’s specialized unit can help a neighboring department respond to an emergency. Troche gave the example of when a driver drove off of Gulf of Mexico Drive into the ocean. SPD jumped in to help LKPD.

“The Sarasota Police Department Traffic Unit and Dive Team assisted the Town of Longboat Key Police Department on this traffic call out,” Troche said. “Officers from Sarasota PD can respond quickly due to the City of Sarasota being close to the Town of Longboat Key on the south side of Longboat Key.”

Mager used several examples of how his department works together with neighboring agencies from fraud investigations to searches for missing persons.

“For example, in missing person cases we’ve utilized Sheriff’s Office helicopters. In fraud investigations, we’ve worked with Sheriff’s investigative units. Our officers have backed up Sarasota PD on traffic stops around St. Armands and Lido, and assisted Bradenton Beach PD with suspicious person calls,” Mager said.