Staff recommends that the City Council approve the City-County Special Investigations Unit (CCSIU) Agreement with Yellowstone County for calendar year 2026.

The CCSIU is a collaborative effort between the Billings Police Department and the Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office aimed at addressing narcotics trafficking and organized criminal activity in Yellowstone County and Billings. This partnership maximizes efficiency by pooling resources and expertise.

The 2025 agreement governing the unit will expire on December 31, 2025. The proposed 2026 agreement continues the terms of the partnership, ensuring uninterrupted joint operations and alignment with the goals of the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (RMHIDTA).

Key highlights of the agreement include:
Joint staffing with full-time investigative personnel from both agencies.
Joint prioritization of cases by the Unit Supervisor in consultation with the Police Chief and County Sheriff.
Continued adherence to the Unit’s established policies and procedures.
Equal sharing of financial obligations, such as petty cash and forfeiture funds, ensuring fiscal accountability.

Billings Police Department – Providing investigative personnel, resources, and operational oversight for city-specific cases.
Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office – Contributing personnel and resources for county-wide law enforcement efforts.
City of Billings Residents – Benefiting from improved safety and reduced crime through targeted enforcement.
Yellowstone County Residents – Experiencing enhanced protection against organized criminal activities.
Rocky Mountain HIDTA – Supporting collaborative efforts to address high-priority drug trafficking issues in the region.
City Council and County Commissioners – Approving agreements and ensuring policy alignment with public safety objectives.
Yellowstone County Attorney’s Office – Providing legal support for forfeiture processes and prosecution efforts.

City Council may:

• Approve the CCSIU Agreement for calendar year 2026; or,
• Not Approve the CCSIU Agreement for calendar year 2026 and provide further instruction to staff. 

There will be no additional financial impact on the City since the costs for the officers assigned to the CCSIU are included in the Police Department budget and all other expenses for CCSIU are budgeted in Fund 718 - Drug Forfeitures and Fines.  

The City-County Special Investigations Unit (CCSIU) Agreement with Yellowstone County is presented for City Council approval for calendar year 2026. The agreement continues the longstanding partnership between the Billings Police Department and the Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office to combat narcotics trafficking and organized criminal activity. The 2026 agreement maintains existing operational terms, ensures uninterrupted joint investigations, and carries no additional fiscal impact beyond existing budgeted resources.