Athens City Council members will consider a measure at their meeting Monday night allowing the Athens Police Department to participate in the Athens County Sheriff's Special Response Team.
Council President Chris Knisely said the written agreement, or Memorandum of Understanding, would be similar to agreements that already exist between some of the local law enforcement offices.
“It is similar to the agreement between the Athens Police Department and the OU police department,” Knisely said. “It is that Athens police officers may participate in the Sheriff's special response and tactics unit.”
According to the Sheriff’s Office website, the Special Response Team is made up of volunteers from the deputies and tasked with “high risk responsibilities."
The agreement between OUPD and APD is a mutual-aid agreement, which allows the departments to collaborate in many aspects of law enforcement, including serving arrests and executing search warrants outside of the departments’ jurisdictions.
In a previous Post report, Athens Police Chief Tom Pyle said collaboration strengthens both departments involved.
“I think it improves the ability of both departments," Pyle said. "It’s a benefit to both OU and Athens to have that extra resource."
Council members will also consider adding a parking kiosk to the recently reconstructed portion of West Union Street. Councilman Jeff Risner, D-2nd Ward, said people are only able to park on the street using the Parkmobile app, but added council members would discuss adding the kiosk because not everyone has access to the app.
“In this day and age, almost everybody has a smartphone, but there are people that don’t,” Risner said.
Council members will also hear a presentation from the Disabilities Commission and consider improvements to the Community Center’s sidewalks, which do not currently meet accessibility requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
