(a) As permitted under Ohio R.C. 737.041, upon request of a neighboring jurisdiction, whether or not contiguous to the City of University Heights, the City of University Heights may furnish police manpower and equipment to aid the requesting jurisdiction to the extent such manpower and such equipment is available.
(b) Any request for assistance shall be made by the highest ranking officer of the requesting party on duty at the time. The decision as to whether, and the extent to which, manpower and equipment are available shall be made by the Director of Public Safety or the Chief of Police of the City of University Heights, or by the officer in charge on duty at the time of the request.
(c) Even though a request for assistance has not been made, a police officer of the City of University Heights who observes a police officer of another jurisdiction in distress or receives an urgent call for aid of any such officer in distress nearby, may, in the exercise of sound discretion and reasonable judgment, and subject to departmental rules and regulations and established policies, practices and procedures, go into the other jurisdiction to render assistance to the officer in distress.
(d) The personnel of the City of University Heights Police Department acting under this section outside of the City may participate in any pension or indemnity fund established by the City to the same extent as if they were acting within the City, and are entitled to all rights and benefits under Ohio R.C. 4123.01 to 4123.94, the same as if they were performing police services within the City of University Heights.
(e) Personnel of the City of University Heights responding to a call for assistance under this section shall be considered acting within the scope of their employment while en route to or from, and while acting within the requesting jurisdiction, and while acting within any other jurisdiction if engaged in fresh pursuit. To the extent that Ohio R.C. 2744.02 et seq. is applicable to the operation of police departments, it shall be applicable to the City of University Heights Police personnel rendering service outside the City under this section.
(1982 Code, § 139.11) (Ord. 96-48. Passed 11-18-1996.)