Copyright © 2005 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved
News from the Cherokee Nation, OK
Copyright © 2005 CNO
CATOOSA, OK – The Cherokee Nation Marshal Service and the Catoosa Police Department have signed a cross-deputization agreement, which will improve law enforcement services for both agencies.
The Cherokee Nation Marshal Service recently signed a cross-deputization agreement with the Catoosa Police Department. Pictured from left to right are: Robert Birchfield and Raymond Rodgers with the Catoosa Police Department, George Parker, Catoosa City Council member, Curtis Conley, mayor of Catoosa, David Stewart, CEO of Cherokee Nation Enterprises, Cara Cowan, Cherokee Nation Tribal Council member, Thomas Fitzgibbon and Clorissa Pitts with the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service. 
"The agreement will allow the Catoosa Police Department to assist in patrolling tribal property in and around the Cherokee Casino and Resort in Catoosa and other properties defined as Indian land within the city limits," said Thomas Fitzgibbon, lieutenant with the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service.
It also allows the Marshal Service to assist Catoosa officers when they request assistance. 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-deputization agreements.
"It is important for the tribe to have formal agreements with local governments," said Cara Cowan, Cherokee Nation Tribal Council member representing Rogers County. "I’m excited we have this opportunity to work with the city of Catoosa."
The Cherokee Nation Marshal Service signed a cross-deputization agreement with the Rogers County Sheriff’s department in January and has similar agreements with most of the 14-counties in the tribe’s jurisdiction and many municipalities like Catoosa.
"We recognize a facility like ours places a lot of demand on a small community like Catoosa," said David Stewart, chief executive officer of Cherokee Nation Enterprises. "It’s important for us to help provide the resources to allow us to address security issues that arise in the community. It’s also important to be a compatible part of the community."
"I am very pleased with the joint effort to provide better security for the community," said Raymond Rodgers, chief of the Catoosa Police Department. "Along with the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, the Catoosa Police Department will be able to address crimes in a way that will benefit both agencies."
| Related Cherokee Nation contact information: |
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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 |