Copyright © 2003 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

Pictured, left to right: Cherokee Nation General Counsel Julian Fite, Malcolm Atwood, director of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control, and David Roberts, director of the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service.

TAHLEQUAH, OK - The Cherokee Nation Marshal Service recently signed a cross-deputization agreement with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control in a cooperative effort to enforce drug laws on tribal land.

The Cherokee Nation Marshals have sole jurisdiction over Cherokee restricted land. No state or local agency can enforce the law on Indian land without a cross-deputization agreement with the Marshal Service. Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control officers now have the authority to enforce drug laws on non-Indian lands and assist the Cherokee Nation Marshals with investigations in their jurisdictional area.

“It enhances our abilities and their abilities to follow-up on investigations,” said Malcolm Atwood, director of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control.

“We need each other,” said L.D. Drywater, liaison marshal with the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service. “This way they (Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control) can go in and work on tribal land and we can help them.” “I think it will work very well,” added Atwood.

The Cherokee Nation Marshal Service is currently cross-deputized with Craig, Mayes, Muskogee and Nowata county sheriff’s offices and has state authority via cross-deputization with District Attorneys in Craig, Mayes, Rogers, Delaware and Ottawa counties. The marshal service also has cross-deputized with city police departments in Big Cabin, Stilwell, Fort Gibson, Vian, Tahlequah, Grove, Hulbert, Sperry, Jay and Pryor, as well as the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

The Cherokee Nation Marshal Service has developed a very capable team that handles drug investigations. That expertise is one reason that many law enforcement agencies in northeastern Oklahoma have cross-deputized with the Marshal Service.

Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager Cherokee Nation - Public Affairs Phone 918-456-0671 (Ex.2324) E-mail: ldaugherty@cherokee.org

Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma Attn: (Department Name) P.O. Box 948, Tahlequah, OK 74465 Telephone: 918-456-0671 (Toll Free OK) 1-800-256-0671