Jul 06 2023 10 mins
Lee-Ann O'Brien has a unique view of First Nation law enforcement, which she shared in this conversation with podcast host Richard Perry.
O'Brien is deputy chief of the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service, a stand-alone First Nation police service with a very unique and complex jurisdiction.
Today, the force has 42 sworn officers and 11 civilian members, including six full-time public safety dispatchers. It has jurisdiction and authority in Quebec and Ontario.
The Mohawk territory of Akwesasne includes portions in Ontario and Quebec within Canada and New York State of the United States of America. It is situated along the St. Lawrence River and spans approximately 25,000 acres of land, including 37 km of waterways and 57 islands.
No other First Nation community in Canada has this unique jurisdiction and geographic features.
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