3 states sign mutual-aid pact to help battle crime

6/30/2006

BRYAN, Ohio Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana are teaming up to fight crime.

Last year, the sheriff s departments of Hillsdale and Williams counties entered into the area s first written mutual-aid agreement. Now, the Steuben County sheriff s office in Indiana has signed on.

One of my goals was to open up the communication lines between the sheriff offices, since we do all border each other, Williams County Sheriff Kevin Beck said.

Though there have been informal agreements before, this is the first written mutual-aid agreement that extends across the three states borders.

Under the new plan, the counties will be able to pool resources in times of crisis. For example, if canine units were out searching in the summer heat, additional relief could be brought in from another county. The mounted division for missing children and water rescue teams also will be shared as needed.

Officials at all three departments said the agreement was a result of the growing need for communication and cooperation to fight the war on drugs and violent crime.

If criminals don t have those boundaries, why should we? Sheriff Beck asked.