Commissioners approve Northern Oregon Regional Tactical Response Team IGA

Wasco County commissioners unanimously approved March 5 an updated intergovernmental agreement (IGA) reauthorizing participation in the Northern Oregon Regional Tactical Response Team (NORTECH), a multi‑jurisdictional tactical unit shared among area county law-enforcement agencies.

Sheriff McGill presented the updated IGA, describing the team as a regional tactical resource for Hood River, Wasco, Sherman and Gilliam counties (the sheriff described common training and similar policy sources among agencies). He said the agreement clarifies roles and responsibilities and preserves each agency’s right to operate under its own policies while enabling shared training, equipment purchases and overtime responsibility for deputy participation.

The board moved to approve the agreement; the motion passed unanimously.

Why it matters: NORTECH provides a shared tactical capability that would be resource‑challenging for individual counties to staff or equip independently. The IGA updates aim to clarify liability, indemnity and operational cooperation.

Next steps: County legal and administrative staff will finalize the executed agreement documents with partner counties.