Authority Before Crisis: Why Federal-Local Coordination Can’t Wait
Theron Bowman, Ph.D.
CEO, The Bowman Group
The best risk mitigation is more than knowing what could go wrong. It involves preparing before a crisis, not during one, and certainly not after litigation. These proactive steps help establish a chain of command, define roles, and outline a plan for making difficult decisions.
We conducted an audience poll during our PRIMA26 session, “Authority Clash: Protecting Cities Amidst Unprecedented Risk.” We asked 50 risk managers and insurance professionals to rate, on a scale of 1–10, how prepared their member agencies are to manage federal-local authority conflicts.
The median answer was 5. That's not a grade; it’s a warning signal.
Your peers know the problem exists but are uncertain how to manage it.
The organizations that have the best federal-local communication are those that make federal-local coordination a strategic priority, not an afterthought. That preparation includes five proactive measures:
- Written policies that explicitly address federal-local coordination
- Interagency agreements that define authority, liability, and indemnification
- COOP documents that address federal authority scenarios
- Trained leaders who understand federal-local dynamics and can make decisions under pressure
- Decision frameworks and regular training—including everyone from command staff to patrol officers—established before a federal request arrives
So what can you do today? Start with an honest assessment:
- Do your interagency agreements address authority?
- Do your COOP documents contemplate federal authority scenarios?
- Does your leadership team understand federal-local liability?
If the answer is no, or you're not sure, your organization is at risk.
The worst time to figure out authority and liability is in the heat of the moment. Develop your plan now, in writing, with federal partners and key stakeholders at the table.
The reality is that this is about more than a preparedness score. Community trust, public safety, and, in some cases, lives depend on it.
Theron Bowman, Ph.D.
CEO, The Bowman Group
Biography
With nearly four decades of executive-level public safety and municipal leadership experience, Dr. Bowman brings a rare and practical perspective to the risk management profession. A former police chief and deputy city manager for the City of Arlington, TX, Dr. Bowman has built his career at the intersection of public safety operations, municipal governance, fiscal stewardship and organizational accountability. Dr. Bowman’s background offers a uniquely aligned lens.
