On March 4, 2026, ICMA joined a broad coalition of public safety and local government associations to establish shared principles for a unified framework for the future of public safety cooperation. This convening, led by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) resulted in the Shared Principles of Agreement, a consensus-based document designed to improve intergovernmental coordination and ensure predictable operations across all levels of government.

Affirming these best practices is consistent with ICMA’s Federal Policy Priorities regarding public safety, which acknowledge that “Local governments are the primary providers of public safety services. Federal support should strengthen local capacity and decision-making” and that ICMA “supports collaboration and coordination across federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to reinforce trust in public safety.”

ICMA members are called upon to understand best practices and lean on that knowledge to support the work of their public safety departments. These principles advocate for early notification and mutual deconfliction to ensure local agencies are not forced to react to sudden federal operations that risk community and officer safety, strain local staffing, or leave their departments unprepared for media and community inquiries.

ICMA applauds the strategic leadership demonstrated by the IACP in convening this gathering, and was proud to participate in the deliberations. By signing on to these shared principles, ICMA is advocating for professional standards that prioritize local governments earning and maintaining the trust of the communities they serve.