Tribal leadership responds to the suspension of commissions by the Grand River Dam Authority

Written By: Meredith Johnson

(MUSCOGEE NATION) The Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA) suspended the commission of Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse officers and the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service on Friday, Jan 5. The GRDA stated in a letter to the Cherokee Nation that while it is not taking action to terminate the cross-deputization agreements, it will be suspending the commissions until after recommendations are made from the One Oklahoma Task Force.  

Read this story on Mvskoke Media here. 

GRDA President/Chief Executive Dan Sullivan made the following statement, “In an effort by the Governor to have consistency in statewide cross deputizations, the Grand River Dam Authority is limiting its two-way agreements. GRDA Police has a longstanding record and dedication of working with all law enforcement agencies across northeast Oklahoma to ensure public safety. We will determine the future appropriate action related to law-enforcement commissions issued by GRDA, pending the results of the One Oklahoma Task Force.”

Muscogee (Creek) Nation and Cherokee Nation leadership responds

MCN Principal Chief David Hill responded to the suspension of commissions with the following public statement: 

“The suspension of this agreement is not the result of any problem with the cross-deputization agreement. Instead, this is a dangerous political ploy driven by Governor Stitt’s desire to undermine tribal jurisdiction at the expense of the most vulnerable Oklahomans.

Our Attorney General met with the Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA) officials on December 22, 2023, where they expressed enthusiastic support for the benefits of working together under our cross-deputization agreement. They even began planning training events to make others aware of how well it worked.

Since that time, the GRDA has moved to suspend this agreement pending the outcome of Governor Stitt’s planned task force. Given the absence of any substantive issues related to the GRDA commission, we are left to conclude that the suspension of this agreement results from pressure from Governor Stitt and his campaign to undermine the sovereignty of tribes and deteriorate public safety.

It is beyond reprehensible for Stitt or any agency to play political games with the safety and well-being of Oklahoma citizens. We believe it is misguided to suspend any commission immediately. Violent criminals and those who harm others will not suspend their criminal activities, and there should be more police on the streets to address them, not less.

Public safety is our priority, and the MCN will continue to respond to all calls for assistance and actively protect the public as consistent with all laws.”

Cherokee Nation Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr responded to the suspension with the following statement: 

“Grand River Dam Authority’s actions today, under pressure from Government Stitt, create barriers where none existed and undermine public safety on some of our major waterways, Grand Lake and Lake Tenkiller, among others. Governor Stitt has spent more than three years pressing phony claims of chaos on tribal reservations to fit his narrative. We had nothing but a positive relationship with the GRDA.” 

Cross-commissions and suspensions

Previous coverage by Mvskoke Media had detailed the intricacies of cross-commissions within Indian Country post-McGirt. Commissions are official authorizations to act in a particular function. Within law enforcement, commissions grant the holder to act in their ability as law enforcement officers.  

When officers are cross-commissioned, commission cards are given to the agencies for them to distribute to officers. The cards are only eligible to those deputies over the age of 21 years old who possess a valid driver’s license, high school diploma or equivalent, no felony charges, provide certification, and qualify with a firearm twice a year.  

However, in order to have a cross-commission an agreement of cross-deputization between two groups must be in place. In order for any party to end the cross-deputization agreement, a 60-day notice terminating the relationship must be sent by the terminating agency.  

The GRDA statement on the suspension  states, “The Grand River Dam Authority Police Department, however, is not taking any action to terminate the cross-deputization agreement.” The GRDA did not give a 60-day notice; instead, they suspended the cross-commissions. This automatically pulls the  LPD and CNMS authority to act as law enforcement officers. Suspending officer commissions is usually done individually when requirements are not met or misconduct has occurred.  

The cross-deputization agreement between the MCNLPD and the GRDA was the basis of an arrest made on Dec 18 of a non-tribal citizen.  Conflict between a MCN Lighthorse deputy and Matthew Douglas, an Okmulgee County Jail employee, during the booking procedure has led to a felony assault charge for Douglas. Douglas is scheduled for arraignment in MCN District Court on March 27.  

The conflict and resulting charge were mentioned specifically by Stitt in Executive Order 2023-32, which created the One Oklahoma Task Force. The taskforce is a 13-member panel responsible for making official recommendations addressing “the McGirt decision’s negative effects.”

The first meeting of the Task Force will be no later than 60 days after the EO’s signing, which is on or before Feb. 20.

The full statement from Chief Hill can be found here. 

The full statement from Chief Hoskins can be found here.