Cherokee Nation marshal reports stepped-up patrols, new technology and outreach into reservation

Marshal Daniel Mead told the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council on Feb. 13 that the marshal service has increased patrols, adopted new complementary technologies and is pushing personnel and services into the reservation.

"I want you guys to know that I take this very, very — I take this to heart," Mead said, describing his approach to visible community policing. He credited staff including Samantha Hendricks in HR and Josh Buck for support, and said Office of the Attorney General Chad Harsha had "calmed my nerves more times than anybody" during his first month.

Mead said the service is using new technologies that "complement each other really, really well" and that staff are learning their capabilities. About GeoSafe — a location-sharing tool used by multiple agencies — Mead told the council he has told his staff it is not being used to "track" them. "I don't — I'm not using that to track you," he said, adding that GeoSafe allows interagency visibility of units such as troopers and county officers when participating agencies turn it on.

Councilor Sasha asked for an update on an EMS expansion at Hulbert for an ambulance bay. Mead said he is checking on that item, and that it was one of the last projects former Marshal Beal worked on before leaving the office.

Mead also described community reaction to increased patrols: he said citizens have noticed marshals present in stores and on corners and that the visibility helps deter crime. He said the marshal service includes juvenile services and justice services and that he is continuing to push personnel into Indian country, including "on the Cherokee Nation Reservation." He invited council members to contact him with dates and times if they want specifics about marshal deployments.

Council members thanked Mead for the report. The marshal's update preceded other departmental reports at the meeting.