A method and mobile device are provided that manage a relay service in a public safety wireless communication system. When the mobile device determines one or more of: another mobile device has exited or is exiting a public safety vehicle or another first mobile device is not receiving a signal from a wide area network of acceptable signal quality, the mobile device activates a relay service. In response to activating the relay service, the mobile device announces an availability of the relay service at the mobile device, receives a registration of the another mobile device for the relay service, and, in response to receiving the registration, relays communications between the another mobile device and an access node. In another embodiment, a method is provided for negotiating a provision of a relay service among multiple mobile devices, wherein each such mobile device currently is providing a relay service.