City of Montgomery and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Partner to Support Traffic Crash Response
Three deputies will investigate qualifying crashes during designated weekday hours
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The City of Montgomery and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office announced a partnership Monday to support traffic crash response within Montgomery’s city limits, strengthening cooperation between the Sheriff’s Office and the Montgomery Police Department.
Through the agreement, three sworn deputies trained in accident investigation will respond to qualifying crashes Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The partnership establishes shared responsibilities that help both agencies make effective use of available law enforcement resources.
“Working together allows us to better serve the people who depend on us every day,” said Mayor Steven L. Reed. “This partnership gives MPD additional support for qualifying traffic crashes while allowing our officers to address other public safety needs across Montgomery. I appreciate Sheriff Cunningham and his team for their collaboration and shared commitment to keeping our community safe.”
“This new initiative with the Montgomery Police Department reflects our shared commitment to serving our citizens,” said Sheriff Derrick Cunningham. “By providing additional assistance with traffic accidents, we can reduce response times, improve the efficiency of investigations, and minimize the impact of traffic incidents on our community. Ultimately, this effort is about working together to better serve our citizens and make our roadways safer.”
The three assigned deputies will investigate crashes involving personal-use vehicles that result in no injuries or only minor injuries. Under the agreement, a minor injury is one that does not reasonably appear to require emergency medical treatment, hospitalization or transportation for treatment, and does not require a specialized investigation.
The Sheriff’s Office will not respond to every traffic crash in Montgomery. Its role under this partnership is limited to qualifying crashes during the designated weekday hours. MPD will continue to handle crashes outside that scope and all traffic crash investigations outside those hours.
MPD will retain responsibility for crashes involving:
- Commercial vehicles;
- Serious bodily injury;
- A fatality or suspected fatality;
- Circumstances requiring specialized investigative personnel, equipment or resources; and
- Other circumstances requiring MPD’s personnel or investigative capabilities.
Both agencies will coordinate when a crash requires additional assistance. If deputies initially responding to a crash determine that it involves a commercial vehicle, serious injury, a fatality or other circumstances requiring MPD involvement, they will notify MPD and coordinate the transfer of the investigation.
MPD may also respond to, assist with or assume responsibility for any crash within city limits. Either agency may request assistance from the other when circumstances warrant, with the safety of motorists, the public and responding personnel guiding the appropriate response.
The three deputies will remain under the supervision of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, which will provide their training, vehicles and equipment. Each agency will prepare and maintain reports for the crashes it investigates.
Under the agreement, the City will pay the Montgomery County Commission $936,183 annually to support personnel and operational costs associated with the services.
