Yuma council approves MOU allowing two YPD officers to join FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force

On May 7, 2025, the Yuma City Council adopted a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to allow Yuma Police Department officers to serve as part‑time members of the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF).

The item, listed as Resolution R2025‑5406 on the council’s consent resolutions, was approved as part of the evening’s consent business with a unanimous roll call vote. Councilmember Joe Morris made the motion and Deputy Mayor Smith seconded; the clerk recorded seven ayes and no nays.

Council and city staff said the agreement will let cleared YPD officers access FBI intelligence and technology for “early warning” of potential threats, a capability Yuma officials said is important given the city’s border location. Police Chief Tom Garrity told the council the department plans to assign two detectives as task‑force officers, expected to spend about eight hours a month on JTTF duties under normal conditions, and that officers would remain YPD employees based in Yuma.

Chief Tom Garrity said, “We will retain all of our body camera footage. All of our task force officers will be wearing a Yuma Police Department body camera. We are required to give a copy over to the FBI, but we retain all body camera footage. If we’re going to release that body camera footage, we have to get in contact with the special agent in charge 72 hours beforehand.” He also described the intelligence access the MOU enables as “invaluable” for preparing the community against threats.

Why it matters: supporters said the agreement gives local police access to federal intelligence that could help prevent or prepare for violent incidents, while opponents warned it could erode local control and civil‑liberties protections. Several residents who signed up to speak urged council members to reject the MOU or impose stronger transparency measures.

Residents and public commenters voiced privacy and oversight concerns. Charlene Young, a Yuma resident who spoke during public comment, said, “This MOU surrenders our local law enforcement’s independence to the FBI, seriously breaking public trust and accountability.” Darlene Gail Erwin asked how many YPD officers would be designated and for how long; she said the MOU’s two‑year assignment language and the lack of explicit staffing numbers raised questions about cost and patrol coverage. Jillian Verdugo said the agreement could give the FBI “control over specific body camera footage, public records, and oversight,” and urged the council to demand reforms.

Council questions and staff responses: Councilmember Watts asked whether YPD would lose control of its body cameras; Chief Garrity responded that YPD cameras would remain department property and officers would follow YPD rules while assigned to the task force. On staffing, Garrity said the department plans to designate two officers as task‑force members and that the arrangement would be management‑level, not a fixed contractual number in the MOU. He described the classification required for task force work as “top secret compartmental information.” He also said the FBI will reimburse the city for overtime costs the department documents and that assigned officers would continue to work out of YPD facilities in Yuma.

Public‑safety and civil‑liberties concerns were repeatedly raised. Henry Mack, a local teacher, told the council he feared “unchecked surveillance, racial profiling, and the targeting of any opposing side,” particularly because of Yuma’s demographic composition. Cody Pease said the city should not “sign away our resident civil liberties,” and warned that classified handling of records could block local oversight if investigations later drew scrutiny.

Formal action: Resolution R2025‑5406 (Memorandum of Understanding, Federal Bureau of Investigation) was adopted as part of the resolution consent agenda. Vote: Martinez, Morris, McClendon, Morales, Watts, Deputy Mayor Smith and Mayor Douglas J. Nichols—aye; no recorded nays. The council recorded the vote when it adopted the roll of remaining consent resolutions that included the MOU.

What happens next: City staff said the next steps include designating specific officers and processing the required security clearances. Chief Garrity said officers assigned to the task force will remain subject to Yuma Police Department policies, including use‑of‑force rules and restrictions on racial profiling, and that the department can withdraw officers from the task force at any time. Opponents signaled they will continue to press for additional transparency and oversight measures now that the MOU has been authorized.

Context and follow‑up: City staff and the chief stressed the MOU formalizes information‑sharing arrangements the department has used in ad‑hoc meetings with federal partners in the past, and they said the partnership is intended primarily for intelligence‑sharing and early warning rather than shifting local law‑enforcement priorities. Several public speakers urged the council to require stronger reporting or legal safeguards in future implementations.

For more: The MOU was introduced and adopted as Resolution R2025‑5406; council discussion and public comment on the item occurred during the May 7 meeting. The chief described procedural protections for body camera footage and the city’s intent to seek reimbursement from the FBI for documented overtime costs.