Columbia, SC (WLTX) - The Richland County Sheriff's Office and Columbia Police Department will be able to respond in both jurisdictions because of a signed memorandum of understanding.
"People want Richland County and the City of Columbia to work together," said Seth Rose, a member of Richland County Council. "This is an example of how we're moving forward, not only as a council, but in the law enforcement realm of working together."
The one sheet MOU erased jurisdictional boundaries that once established where officers could police.
Richland County Deputies were already allowed to enter the city limits. Under the new agreement, Columbia police officers will be able to do police work outside the city limits in Richland county.
"We know from a public safety standpoint, citizens don't care what color the uniform is, said Rose.
"This agreement doesn't say that they can come into Richland County, outside the city limits, and just patrol. They can only do that as long as the Sheriff's Department signs off on something."
The day to day will not change for either department. The agreement just allows the departments to assist one another should a major emergency strike.
"We don't want the logistics and politics to get in the way of providing public safety," said Brian Newman, Columbia City Council Public Safety Committee Chair. "You want to have formal procedures in place in the event that a neighboring jurisdiction needs assistance. We want to be able to provide that and vise versa."