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Washington County told carriers may limit law-enforcement liability without fleet and body cameras
Summary
An insurance broker told commissioners that some carriers have declined to quote commercial coverage and Travelers may reduce or refuse law-enforcement liability limits unless the sheriff's office implements fleet and body cameras; county staff said a municipal pooled plan through EMC is being explored.
An insurance representative updating the Washington County Board of Commissioners said Jan. 4 that two carriers have declined to quote the county's commercial insurance and that bigger carriers such as Travelers are reviewing recent losses.
"They were basically telling us that they would lower the total liability limits for law enforcement liability, which is, or not even offer the coverage, for that line of insurance due to not having the fleet cameras at the sheriff's department, on the actual deputies and also in the car," said Unidentified Speaker 7, the insurance presenter.
Speaker 7 said the county's brokers do not yet have final renewal numbers but that, if carriers lower liability limits, taxpayers could be responsible for more costs out of pocket. "Instead of having, say, the million dollar liability limits, Travelers may say, well, we're only gonna give you 500,000 in liability insurance for law enforcement or 250,000," Speaker 7 said.
The presenter said Travelers' stance is driving market tightening and that Liberty Mutual has largely exited the county market. He described an alternative under development: a pooled municipal program through EMC that could be available next year and might lower premiums for participating counties. "They're trying to figure it all out right now," he said of the EMC effort.
Commissioners asked whether the sheriff had discussed purchasing fleet or body cameras; Speaker 7 said he had not yet had that conversation but could follow up. County officials noted the practical and budgetary challenges of equipping vehicles and deputies and the possibility that carriers would instead limit coverage rather than require cameras.
What happens next: Speaker 7 and county staff expect final renewal quotes around Jan. 1, and the board asked staff to follow up with the sheriff's office and with brokers about the feasibility, costs and timing of camera installations and of the EMC pooled option.
