Tribal Police to begin casino detail

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January 26, 2012

Anonymous Press-Republican The Press Republican Thu Jan 26, 2012, 02:28 AM EST

AKWESASNE — A smaller New York State Police detail is now assigned to Akwesasne Mohawk Casino here.

The St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Council negotiated with State Police for the change, which has reduced the number of officers from 17 to five.

"The tribe will achieve a significant cost savings in policing fees paid to the state of New York," Tribal Chief Mark Garrow said in a press release.

In recent years, the tribe has seen significant increases in State Police costs. It had been paying between $2 million and $3.4 million per year.

The reduction in the State Police casino detail will result in an approximate 60 percent reduction in these payments to the state, the tribe said.

New York State Police had been providing the service since the casino opened in 1999.

When the tribe and the state entered into the gaming compact, St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Police were not certified to enforce New York criminal law. Since then, the Tribal Police have been certified.

The Tribal-State Compact contained a provision allowing Tribal Police to assume criminal jurisdiction once they were certified.

"The Tribal Police are now able conduct the public-safety function in the casino," Tribal Chief Randy Hart said in a statement. "We are confident that they will do a fine job."

For many years, the tribe had raised objections about the number of state troopers assigned to the casino, believing that the number was unreasonably high and not justified by the number of actual criminal calls coming from the casino, leaders said in the release.

"The state pretty much ignored those objections," Tribal Chief Ron LaFrance said. "But with the change in administration last year, we've been able to move forward on this issue."

Under the Tribal-State Compact, having the Tribal Police assume casino policing required the agreement of New York state. Gov. Andrew Cuomo's staff came to the table prepared to negotiate in a way not seen previously, tribal leaders said.

The news release said police only rarely have to make arrests for casino-related crimes at Akwesasne. The majority of calls involve minor theft, stolen slot-machine tickets and the occasional disorderly patron.

State Police still maintain a small contingent at the casino to conduct background investigations necessary for Class III gaming licenses.