AKWESASNE , N.Y. — On Wednesday, June 15^th The St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Council received good news as the New York State Senate approved a police bill that restored the Tribal Police Department’s law enforcement capabilities. The police bill will enable tribal police to provide for a safer Akwesasne community and border enforcement.

"This is a big morale boost for our department," said Tribal Chief of Police Andrew Thomas. "This helps our efforts in protecting the safety of community members and creates a potentially long-term working relationship with the New York State Police."

The Tribal Police Department is comprised of 13 full-time officers responsible for enforcing laws on the U.S.-side of the Akwesasne community. In addition to serving Akwesasne, tribal police provide an invaluable service to the entire region by patrolling nearly 12 miles of international border comprised of islands and rivers.

Since 2000 however, the tribal police’s authority to enforce the border and other criminal activities have been limited to tribal laws and arresting other Native Americans, but not non-Natives. Tribal police were only authorized to detain non-Natives and to turn them over to the appropriate authorities.

The legislation reinstates their full policing powers and gives tribal police the same powers as the State Police. It will also give tribal police the ability to arrest non-Natives for crimes they commit in the Akwesasne community.

"The role of our police department has transformed and its services extend beyond our community and protect national interests," stated Tribal Chief Barbara A. Lazore. "The police bill acknowledges their efforts in preserving peace throughout the region and their long history of cooperating with surrounding law enforcement agencies on joint investigations, providing mutual assistance and protecting the border."

Akwesasne is a law-abiding community, but its unique geographic location has made it an easy target for criminal organizations to exploit. It has posed an operational challenge for border enforcement agencies like the U.S. Border Patrol.

“Our police force is an integral part of Integrated Border Enforcement Team and works very closely with the U.S. Customs, Border Patrol, FBI, State Police, and their Canadian counterparts on border security,” said Tribal Chief James W. Ransom. “This stretch of border is extremely hard to patrol and the cooperation of our tribal police is essential.”

Tribal police officers are ideally suited to effectively monitor this stretch of international border as officers are Akwesasne residents with an intimate knowledge of the territory. As a result, the Tribal Police Department serves a vital role in various border enforcement initiatives. 

“Restoring their police authority to arrest non-Natives will help improve our region’s first line of defense on the international border,” noted Chief Ransom. “We hope that with additional resources and funding for their border-related work our tribal police officers can do their job more effectively.”

The Senate bill was sponsored State Senator Elizabeth O’C Little.  The reinstating of tribal police powers also has the support of the Tribal Council, Franklin County District Attorney’s Office , U.S. District Court and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.  

According to Thomas, “We have forged a solid relationship with surrounding law enforcement agencies and with increased support from the state and federal governments we will see dramatic improvements against illegal border crossing and other crimes.”

A similar legislation is now making its way through the State Assembly and the Tribal Council is hopeful that it will be passed before they adjourn on June 23^rd. Assemblyman Darrel J. Aubertine is sponsoring the Assembly legislation and Assemblywoman RoAnn M. Destito is co-sponsoring.