Sheriff and council back new pursuit policy and rename county unit to Community Support Unit
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Summary
The committee discussed and supported a revised sheriff’s pursuit policy that narrows vehicle pursuits generally to violent felonies and renamed a unit to the Patrol Community Support Unit. The sheriff said the unit will respond countywide on request from cities and will report usage at year-end.
Committee members and the sheriff discussed revisions to the sheriff’s pursuit policy and a renaming of a county policing unit. Councilmember Simon thanked the sheriff and his staff for developing a policy that she said will generally limit pursuits to violent felonies rather than misdemeanors.
The sheriff described the renamed unit — Patrol Community Support Unit — as reflective of its countywide role. He said deputies in the unit move throughout the county and respond on request from police chiefs and mayors. "The community support unit is reflective of the actual function that the unit conducts because those deputies move throughout the county," the sheriff said.
Council members asked about the request process and recordkeeping. The sheriff said a police chief or mayor should contact him or executive staff and a sergeant would be directed to coordinate with local shift supervisors. The sheriff also confirmed staff will keep spreadsheets of deployments and provide an end-of-year report breaking down communities served and reasons for deployment.
Council members welcomed the change and asked for notification to county police chiefs that the support unit is available. The committee requested an annual report on the unit's deployments and community impact.
No formal vote was required on the policy update in the committee transcript; the exchange was recorded under miscellaneous items and committee members expressed support.
