Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics Director R. Darrell Weaver and Chickasaw Lighthorse Police Chief Jason O’Neal signed a historic cross-deputation agreement Thursday, May 24 in the Blue Room of the Oklahoma State Capitol.
Individual officers of the LPD and the OBN will be issued special law enforcement commissions under the agreement granting each equal law enforcement authority on or off Indian land.
“This agreement marks a major milestone in tribal-state relations which will benefit every citizen in the state,” said Bill Anoatubby, Governor of the Chickasaw Nation. “Combining the talents of these fine officers and other resources of these agencies will multiply the effectiveness of their efforts.”
This agreement is the first of its kind between an American Indian police department and a state law enforcement agency.
The goal of the agreement is to eliminate jurisdictional uncertainties which can benefit criminals.
Many of these jurisdictional issues were highlighted in a recent report by Amnesty International titled “Maze of Injustice: The failure to protect Indigenous women from sexual violence in the USA.”
The report noted that “complicated jurisdictional issues can significantly delay and prolong the process of investigating and prosecuting crimes of sexual violence.”
O’Neal pointed out that many of the same jurisdictional issues could hinder drug investigations and prosecutions.
“Criminals do not recognize jurisdictional lines, whether they are State, County or Tribal,” said O’Neal. “Now law enforcement officers of these two agencies can stop those who prey on our communities, friends and family without hesitating.
“Today we send a message to those who manufacture, distribute or possess illegal drugs, that they may no longer use jurisdiction limitations to avoid law enforcement.”
A uniform cross deputation agreement created and signed by state and tribal leaders in 2005 provides a framework to enable all law enforcement officers in the state to make lawful arrests inside and outside Indian Country within the state of Oklahoma.
While the agreement applies to all law enforcement agencies in the state, the special law enforcement commissions must be issued before law enforcement officers are authorized to take action in the jurisdiction of another agency.
The LPD and several local law enforcement agencies have signed agreements and cross-commissioned officers.
These include the Pontotoc County Sheriff’s Department, the 22nd District Attorney’s Office, the Roff, Allen and Stonewall Police Departments, among others.
“We are working with agencies in each of the 13 counties to help them understand the benefits and opportunities of cross deputation and the special law enforcement commissions,” said Chief O’Neal. “Many of those we have talked with have been very receptive to the idea, and we hope to exchange commissions with more of them in the near future.”
