Kondracki said the two departments have an agreement that if, in responding to a call, the officer is not sure if the area is in the city of La Crosse or Onalaska, the first squad car on the scene will provide the service and the details will be worked out later between the departments. The two departments share in officer training as well. Each offers the other open seats in any training activity. Officers are trained in the use of force on everything from their initial stance and what they say to the suspect to the use of deadly force. Both departments work together on the National Youth Sports Program and Gang Resistance Education and Training program.
Officers receive training and also provide youth education as part of the program.
Kondracki said the group shares the latest information on who is dealing drugs in the Coulee Region, for example. Onalaska shared its experience with its very successful Citizens Police Academy and helped La Crosse establish its own program. Kondracki said Onalaska provided La Crosse with trained officers to set up his city's program. La Crosse has been working with La Crosse County, Onalaska, and the Town of Campbell to establish an Emergency Response Team. La Crosse has its own SWAT team and is sharing training and equipment in an effort to get the new team up and running.