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ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE GENERAL ORDER Effective Date: July 2, 2020  Amends - GO 6.2.11 ( February 6, 2020 ) Number: 6.2.11 Distribution: All Personnel Review Month: March Reviewing Authority: SHERIFF / Legal Services Subject: Mutual Aid This order consists of the following: 1. Purpose 2. Policy 3. Definitions 4. Procedures 1. Purpose This policy describes the jurisdictional boundaries of the agency and provides guidelines for the proper use of mutual aid. 2. Policy It is the policy of this agency to work constructively with other law enforcement agencies by providing or receiving app ropriate assistance, in the form of services, personnel, and equipment, for emergencies and other identified needs. 3. Definitions A. Assisting Agency - an agency providing assistance under a mutual aid agreement. B. Jurisdiction - the geographical area withi n which a law enforcement agency exercises authority and maintains responsibility. C. Mutual Aid Agreement - a cooperative agreement among government agencies allowing for quick and efficient augmentation of resources, as authorized by FS Chapter 23 . D. Regional Services - services within the State of Florida. E. Requesting Agency – an agency requesting assistance under a mutual aid agreement. 4. Procedures A. The jurisdiction of this agency is Orange County, Florida. The boundaries of Orange County, Florida, are described in FS Chapter 7 . B. The Sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer in Orange County with full authority and responsibility to uphold the law and preserve the peace. The Sheriff’s authority extends throughout Orange County, including incorporated areas. C. Several state and federal law enforcement agencies have jurisdiction within 6.2.11, Page 2 of 9 Orange County, Florida , such as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Customs, United States Department of Immigra tion, United States Secret Service, United States Wildlife Service, and United States Coast Guard. D. Agency personnel shall be familiar with the jurisdictional boundaries of this agency and services available from other agencies. They shall also be fami liar with, and comply with, the terms of applicable mutual aid agreements and the proper procedures for requesting or providing mutual aid. E. Orange County Sheriff’s Office Communications maintains communication via radio or phone with: 1. Municipal police departments within Orange County. 2. Florida Highway Patrol. 3. The Sheriff’s Offices in surrounding counties. 4. EVAC ambulance stations and mobile units via Orange County Fire/Rescue Communications . 5. Fire Service stations and fire and rescue vehicles via the appropriate Fire/Rescue Communications Center . F. Mutual Aid Agreements 1. Sheriff’s State wide Mutual Aid Agreement This agency is a party to the statewide mutual aid agreement between all Florida Sheriffs. The Florida Sheriff’s Statewide Mutual Aid Agreement is only for the granting/receiving of mutual aid between Florida Sheriff’s Offices of dif ferent Florida counties. Please note that the provisions of the state wide Sheriff’s agreement are dif ferent from those contained in mutual aid agreements with local municipalities the University of Central Florida and the Orange County Public School Police Department (OCPSPD) . a. An Orange County deputy who is in another county on or off duty, and who personally witnesses a forcible felony as defined by FS 776.08 , may apprehend the suspect and take any other action reasonably necessary to protect persons or property. If law enforcement action is taken, the deputy shall notify the Sheriff’s Office in that county as soon as practicable. The de puty shall defer any further law enforcement action to deputies of the Sheriff’s Office having jurisdiction of the offense upon their arrival and shall provide any assistance that may be necessary. The deputy shall also prepare a written report for the OC SO document ing the incident and the actions taken . The Watch Commander should be notified as soon as possible. This provision of the Sheriffs’ statewide mutual aid agreement does not grant general authority to conduct investigations, serve warrants or sub poenas, or attend to matters of a routine natur e. Orange County Deputies who see activity in another 6.2.11, Page 3 of 9 county that may create a public safety concern; such as DUIs or assaults or batteries, etc., must call the local Sheriff’s Office and request mutual aid be fore they take law enforcement action. The only exceptions to the requirement in the state wide mutual aid agreement, requiring permission from the local Sheriff before law enforcement action is taken, are for the following forcible felonies: Treason; murder; manslaughter; sexual battery; carjacking; home - invasion robbery; robbery; burglary; arson; kidnapping; aggravated assault; aggravated battery; aggravated stalking; aircraft piracy; unlawful throwing, placing, or discharging of a destructiv e device or bomb; and any other felony which involves the use or threat of physical force or violence against any individual. The same rules apply to Sheriffs and deputies throughout the state (e.g., deputy from another county who personally witnesses a forcible felony in Orange County.) b. Other than the forcible felony rule discussed in the previous paragraph, no S heriff or deputy is empowered under the Sheriffs’ statewide mutual aid agreement to operate in another county without prior approval of the Sheriff