Norman approves mutual aid agreement to send police to Kansas City for FIFA security

The Norman City Council on June 2 approved two related agreements that will send Norman police officers to Kansas City, Missouri, to provide security for FIFA World Cup events June 11–12.

The agreements — a mutual aid contract (KDash2526Dash178) and a linked payment agreement — authorize roughly seven officers to deploy under a designated leader, with lodging provided June 10–13 and reimbursement through FEMA/DHS grant funds capped at $35,000. Council action came at a specially scheduled meeting called to consider the contracts.

A police department staff member told the council the agreements are tied together and governed by the grant terms Kansas City received. "We're going to send officers with a designated leader, Captain Carl Pendleton, I believe," the staff member said, adding that Kansas City will provide housing and one meal per shift and that officers will operate under Norman authority while deployed. The staff member said the city expects reimbursement at a rate of $150 per hour and estimated "about 210 hours" of reimbursable service for the team of seven officers.

Council members pressed staff about legal and operational details. The chair said liability was his primary concern — asking who would be responsible if a Norman officer injured or killed someone while deployed. A staff member responded that Norman would remain responsible for its officers' salaries, benefits and workers' compensation and "takes that liability of our officers," though reimbursement is expected from the grant agreement.

Council member Rivera asked about equipment: "Are we taking drones there?" Staff said Norman would not deploy drone coverage for this mission and noted the agreement addresses foreign-operated drones; any sensitive drone use would be controlled at the federal level.

Staff said the officers assigned to the mission come from across the agency, are primarily patrol personnel and were scheduled in a way staff do not expect the deployment to harm local service. The staff compared the assignment to scheduling for other large events and said they had planned to minimize overtime impacts.

The council voted by voice to approve the mutual aid contract and the payment agreement; the chair declared both motions passed. The meeting record shows a unanimous result; discussion and the council's roll-call phrasing indicate a 9–0 approval on the first contract and a subsequent approval of the payment agreement.

Next steps: staff will finalize deployment logistics with Kansas City officials and proceed with the scheduled July (sic) deployment window (lodging June 10–13; work June 11–12). The agreements include the grant terms and federal reporting requirements Kansas City received from FEMA and DHS, which the city must follow as a condition of reimbursement.