SPIRIT LAKE — Spirit Lake Police is now cross-deputized with the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office.

Spirit Lake Chief Keith Hutcheson said the two agencies have had a memorandum of understanding in place for mutual-aid calls in the vicinity of the city and county boundary for about 15 years.

However, the cross-deputization step gives responders a clearer direction on enforcement when assisting their neighboring agency, Hutcheson said.

Hutcheson said Spirit Lake can often respond to a call in southern Bonner County near Spirit Lake quicker than the BCSO can.

For the rest of the story, see our print edition or go subscribe to our e-edition.