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Petoskey council approves cross-deputization agreement with Little Traverse Bay Bands
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Summary
Council approved an interlocal agreement with the Little Traverse Bay Bands to cross-deputize officers and streamline law-enforcement response on tribal properties inside city limits after minor edits and insurance-review confirmation; vote was unanimous.
The council unanimously approved an interlocal agreement with the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians to permit cross-deputization and mutual law-enforcement assistance for tribal properties inside the city.
Public Safety Director Carr explained the agreement is intended to remove time-consuming jurisdictional steps when officers need to assist one another on or near sovereign tribal land, and said the same approach has been used successfully with county partners. Carr said he had worked with tribal leadership and supplied the tribe with the city’s policies; under the agreement both sides would authorize limited response and assistance to reduce delays.
Staff said the city’s insurance provider reviewed the concept and confirmed comfort with the agreement as long as appropriate hold-harmless language is included; the city attorney reviewed the draft and staff asked a minor wording correction to the indemnity clause (adding the word “other” in paragraph 16). Council member questions about property counts in the city (roughly six to eight tribal-owned parcels were estimated) were answered during the presentation.
The motion to approve the interlocal agreement (with the small text amendment) passed on roll call 5–0.
What’s next: Staff will finalize the corrected agreement language and execute the interlocal agreement, and public-safety staff will begin operational coordination with tribal counterparts.
