After years of cooperation and mutual understanding, the Laurel and Anne Arundel County police departments may finally make it official.

The Laurel City Council introduced legislation that would enter the city into a police mutual aid agreement with the Anne Arundel County police department. The agreement extends Laurel's police powers into Anne Arundel and vice versa.

Laurel police spokesman Jim Collins said Tuesday the agreement is beneficial for both departments and for residents.

Laurel has also had a police mutual aid agreement with Howard County police since 1989.

"For time, safety and having the manpower it's a great tool. You would have immediate assistance from these other jurisdictions, and that's a huge benefit to have," he said.

Collins added the amount of help provided is always up to unit commander.

"The supervisor is always going to determine how [much help is provided] because you never want to leave your jurisdiction unprotected," he said.

Maryland City Civic Association president Ray Smallwood said the agreement should bode well for residents of Laurel and Maryland City, located just east of Laurel in Anne Arundel County.

"Any time you get more police officers on the street it's a positive thing," he said. "That would be a plus for everybody and a big plus for the law-abiding citizens."

Smallwood added that fire and rescue squads from area counties have had mutual aid agreements for decades.

"They have been working hand-in-hand on all calls. Police…you don't see as much back-up and support. [All police departments] should have the same mutual aid agreement," he said.

At the July 8 work session, Laurel Police chief David Crawford said Laurel police assisted Anne Arundel County police 40 times in 2008. He added that the department's insurance agency recommended an official mutual aid agreement to help with worker's compensation issues if officers get hurt in other jurisdictions.

Councilman Frederick Smalls (Ward 2) said for insurance purposes it is important to have a written agreement that "spells out all the parameters."

"It's certainly necessary to have for insurance purposes, but it's also good to have because legally both entities know what the boundaries are," he said.

At the work session, Councilman Mike Leszcz (At-large) asked if the city was pursuing a police mutual aid agreement with Montgomery County, which also borders Laurel.

Crawford said the department was looking into a similar agreement with Montgomery County. He added the police have a "handshake agreement" with Prince George's County because Laurel is located in the county.

The council is scheduled to vote on the legislation, which would take effect upon approval, at the July 27 City Council meeting.

E-mail Timmy Gelles at tgelles@gazette.net.