Comanche Council approves agreement with Chickasaw Nation

Andy Morphew, The Duncan Banner, Okla.
·3 min read

Jun. 23—COMANCHE — After approving the new fiscal year budget, Comanche Council spent the majority of the June meeting speaking about a new agreement with the Chickashaw Nation to cross-deputize full-time Comanche Police officers as of June 21, 2022.

Comanche Police Chief Bill Straily and Jason Williams with the Office of Governmental Affairs for the Chickasaw Nation presented the agreement to council members for approval.

Williams stated this agreement will help Comanche Police after the McGirt v. Oklahoma and Bosse v. Oklahoma decisions gave cases involving Native Americans jurisdiction to the tribes rather than the State of Oklahoma.

"After the McGirt and Bosse decisions, where it reestablished the Chickasaw Nation as a whole all being Indian Country, Gov. Bill Anoatubby created this cross commission agreement to issue to go in agreement with local communities," Williams said. "This will issue commission cards to the local party, so that under the McGirt, Bosse decisions, if a Native is detained on what is considered Indian land, they need to have that authority to detain that person (SIC)."

Williams went on to say to Comanche Council this agreement will not ask the Comanche Police to do Lighthorse Police Department's job.

"This commission card is basically authorizing those officers to have the authority, if they come across it in the line of duty, to have the authority to do whatever they need to do, whether it's detain them or issue a citation," Williams said.

Williams, who has 15 years of law enforcement background, said the agreement will also provide insurance to protect officers and address liability claims for lawmen who are cross-deputized.

Another part of the agreement Williams specified to the council included all parties recognizing that all departments are limited on resources.

In city limits, Comanche can still have sole discretion to retain the right to respond or not respond in the event officers are unavailable and are in need of Lighthorse's help, which they have always done.

With the presentation completed, Councilwoman Wanda Moore asked if an issue arises in a domestic abuse situation, will this agreement stop parties from being able to claim jurisdiction.

Chief Straily said if a situation arises like Moore mentioned, with the cross-deputization, this will cover that situation. He also said this is for a full-time officers and not for the reserves.

City Manager Chuck Ralls then asked Williams how many area municipalities have adopted this and according to Williams, there are 42 possible municipalities this affects and 39 have signed. Those cities included Duncan, Marlow and Velma, among others.

The contract, should it encounter hiccups, remains in "working mode" so modifications can be made should the need arise. Councilwoman Moore then made the motion to accept the agreement.

The agreement passed with a 3-0 vote as two council members were absent. It passed as written with a few changes that will officially cross-deputize full-time Comanche Police members.

With the agreement in place, Comanche Police Chief Straily thanked the council for agreeing that the cross-deputization will benefit his department.

A full story about the new fiscal year budget will appear in a future edition of The Duncan Banner.