Copyright © 2006 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved
News from the Cherokee Nation, OK
Copyright © 2006 CNO
Sallisaw, OKLAHOMA – The Cherokee Nation and the Sallisaw Police Department have joined forces and will provide the best possible law enforcement for citizens in the Sallisaw area.
"Corporal Jeff Murray (Sallisaw Police Department), Police Chief Shaloa Edwards (Sallisaw Police Department), Marshal Sharon Wright (Cherokee Nation Marshal Service), Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith, and Marshal Brian Catcher (Cherokee Nation Marshal Service) meet to announce the cross deputizing of the two agencies." 
The agencies have entered into a contract to cross deputize, meaning that all officers will be able to quickly respond to calls and assist each other when needed. The Cherokee Nation Marshal Service has a SWAT team, narcotics investigators, a methamphetamine lab eradication team and other specialized services it can offer area police and sheriff offices through cross-deputizing agreements.
“With the various tribal trust properties in Sallisaw, I felt it was really important to cross deputize,” said Shaloa Edwards, Sallisaw Police Department Police Chief. “This will eliminate some liabilities and issues and allow us to serve the public better.”
“This is a good working relationship,” said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. “It helps both agencies move more quickly on investigations when they know that they can work out the jurisdiction issues later. It will speed up the whole legal process and because we can back each other up, it will keep of all our officers safer.”
“The Sallisaw Police Department will have authority, even when dealing with tribal citizens, and in our tribal buildings in Sallisaw,” said Sharon Wright, Marshal and Director of the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service. “Even in the middle of the night, the Sallisaw PD will have the right to hand out citations and sort out later where the citation will be adjudicated.”
The tribal Marshals held workshops for the local police officers that included training and information on the history of the tribe’s Marshal Service, federal jurisdiction and examples of court cases that dealt with jurisdiction issues. The training instructor, Marshal Shannon Buhl, stated that the Sallisaw Police Department will be able to request surveillance tapes from the gaming facility which may help them with other investigations.
The Cherokee Nation Marshal Service is also working on an agreement with the Sallisaw Jail so that prisoners will not have to be driven to and held in a facility in another town.
Related path(s):
| Related Cherokee Nation contact information: |
|
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 |
Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org
Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation |
