KIRKSVILLE, MO -- Kirksville law enforcement agencies have officially joined forces.

The Adair County Sheriff's Office and Kirksville Police Department have entered into a mutual-aid agreement. 25 police officers have been commissioned as Adair County deputies.

Authorities say this would allow faster response time for mutual-aid requests that occur between the city and the county on a daily basis.

The new agreement also addresses the issue of city officers driving through areas of the county on their way to patrol the airport, the lake at Thousand Hills state Park, and the Hazel Creek Lake area.