The city of Westbrook will have an officer working with the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office tactical team to resolve high-risk situations, including police standoffs.

Cumberland County commissioners ratified the agreement Monday. The Westbrook City Council approved it last week.

Under the agreement, Westbrook will devote one office to the team as a negotiator. In return, the county team will be available to Westbrook in emergencies. The team will be under the direct supervision of county commanders but will be directed by the incident commander in Westbrook, typically the chief.

The arrangement strengthens the tactical team - which includes negotiators, sharpshooters and entry teams - while also broadening the pool of people who will benefit from advanced tactical training, Cumberland County Sheriff Mark Dion said today.

Westbrook Chief William Baker said his department probably is not large enough to field its own tactical team, so relying on mutual aid for such specialized skills will benefit residents.