OKMULKE, Oklv. – The Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Police (MCNLP) can now add Okmulgee to their list of law enforcement agencies they are now cross commissioned with. In a ceremony held on Aug. 13 the two law enforcement agencies shook hands and signed an official cross-commision agreement at Okmulgee City Hall. The ceremony involved members from both law enforcement departments, along with MCN Principal Chief David Hill, Okmulgee Mayor Mickey Baldwin and other municipal officials.
Now MCNLP officers will have the ability to handle cases involving tribal and non-tribal criminal offenders within the capital of the MCN. However, tribal citizens will still go through the Nation’s district court, while non-tribal citizens will continue to go through municipal and state courts. The agreement was not only described as a way of enhancing public safety but also a “recognition of mutual respect”.
This agreement comes just seven months after an altercation between MCNLP officers and Okmulgee County Criminal Justice authorities. The charges for the jail official accused of assaulting a MCNLP Officer, Matthew Douglass, are still pending in the district court.
In previous coverage, Mvskoke Media took an in-depth look into defining what cross-commision agreements are, how they are maintained and how they affect Mvskoke citizens on the reservation. MCNLP is already cross commissioned with many other law enforcement agencies on state, municipal and federal levels.
In a public statement made by the Okmulgee Police Department, it detailed the extensive work it took to establish trust and build a relationship with the MCN. The agreement was not arranged overnight. The statement reads,
“The signing of the cross-commissioning agreement was the result of months of dialogue and rebuilding relationships between the municipal and tribal leaders. Both parties recognize the need for improved cooperation, particularly in light of growing concerns about crime, public safety, and jurisdictional overlap.”
Following OPD’s statement MCN praised the efforts made by OPD and MCNLP, and viewed the agreement as a step in the right direction moving forward. The statement reads,
“This ceremony marks the rekindling of the relationship between the departments, locking in the cross-deputization agreement, and symbolizes a new era moving forward for greater capacity and more public safety in the City of Okmulgee.”
The new cross-commision agreement will take effect immediately.
