By JIMMY LAWTON

CANTON – St. Lawrence County legislators agreed to a mutual aid agreement with St. Regis Mohawk Tribe to alleviate law enforcement jurisdiction restrictions between the county and the reservation.

The memorandum of understanding will allow St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s deputies and the tribal police to provide mutual aid across their respective jurisdictions. This would include parts of the reservation in Franklin County.

“Due to jurisdictional limitations, some crimes, alleged to have been committed on tribal grounds that result in activities that lead to an arrest within the county and vice versa, have created impediments to the efficient enforcement of the law in portions of St. Lawrence County,” the resolution says.

To alleviate this issue, the tribal police and sheriff’s office have proposed an agreement for “the safety and protection of all persons, whether Indian or non-Indian, of St. Lawrence County or the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe Reservation,” the resolution says.

The agreement would allow authorized law enforcement personnel who respond to requests for assistance under the agreement to act as special deputies on behalf of the tribe when providing services for the tribe and as special deputies for the county when providing services for the county.

“Responding officers shall be automatically commissioned by virtue of this agreement through the duration of the situation giving rise to request,” the resolution says. “Responding tribal officers must be currently appointed as a police officer by the superintendent of the New York State Police.”

St. Lawrence County Sheriff Kevin Wells said the agreement was generated on request of counsel from the tribe working in conjunction with the county attorney.

“It hopefully closes some perceived loopholes and assists in more of an open and collaborative working relationship between the county and the tribe,” Wells said. “From a law enforcement standpoint we already work well together and share information as needed.”

St. Lawrence County Attorney Stephen Button says the agreement will reduce issues stemming from arrests made out of jurisdiction by both deputies and tribal police.

Button said the spirit of the MOU would not grant the tribal police or deputies free reign over each other’s jurisdictions.

“There would need to be exigent circumstances for this to take effect,” he said.

Button said this would allow the respective agencies to continue active pursuits or assist when needed.

The MOU while drafted has not yet been officially signed by both parties.

Button said the state has been working on legislation to address the problem, but the county and the tribe were able to move into a local agreement that solves the problem.