MUTUAL AID PLANNING - A MANUAL DESIGNED TO ASSIST IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT MUTUAL AID SYSTEMS

• NCJ Number: 11431
• Author(s): J M BAINES
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 112 pages
• Grant Number(s): 72-TA-99-0002
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: National Sheriffs' Association (NSA)
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)

Annotation

RESULTS OF A NATIONWIDE STUDY OF THE EXCHANGE OF PERSONNEL, SERVICES, AND/OR EQUIPMENT BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES DURING TIMES OF EMERGENCY.

Abstract

THE MANUAL PRESENTS FINDINGS BASED ON STATUTORY RESEARCH, A NATIONAL SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE, AND INTERVIEWS AND CASE STUDIES OF ACTUAL MUTUAL AID OPERATIONS. THE STUDY FOCUSES ON FOUR STATES - CALIFORNIA, IOWA, MICHIGAN, AND LOUISIANA. AN ANALYSIS IS MADE OF EXISTING MUTUAL AID COMPACTS, AGREEMENTS, AND RESOLUTIONS, ALONG WITH AN ASSESSMENT OF HOW THESE COMPACTS HAVE OPERATED DURING EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. RECOMMENDATIONS ARE PRESENTED FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF EXISTING MUTUAL AID SYSTEMS AND FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SUCH SYSTEMS (BOTH STATE AND INTERLOCAL) WHERE NONE PRESENTLY EXIST. MODEL INTERLOCAL AND STATE-WIDE MUTUAL AID PLANS ARE DESCRIBED ALONG WITH THE NECESSARY LEGISLATIVE AND OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES. THE RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL MAJOR PROBLEM AREAS. SINCE MOST MUTUAL AID OPERATIONS ARE NOT SUPPORTED BY FORMAL WRITTEN AGREEMENTS OR COMPACTS, QUESTIONS OF COMMAND CONTROL, LIABILITY, AND EXTRAORDINARY COSTS ARE USUALLY UNRESOLVED. THE STUDY ALSO SHOWS THAT WHILE ADVANCE OPERATIONAL PLANNING OFTEN EXISTS TO DEAL WITH RIOTS AND CIVIL DISORDERS, THERE IS MUCH LESS CONTINGENCY PLANNING FOR OTHER EVENTS INVOLVING LARGE CROWDS. SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS ARE ADVANCED TO COPE WITH THESE PROBLEM AREAS. THE CONCLUDING CHAPTER, APPENDICES, AND BIBLIOGRAPHY CONTAIN THE CORE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND REFERENCES. THIS MANUAL SHOULD BE OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO THOSE INVOLVED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT PLANNING. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)