The Oneida Indian Nation Police, as a law enforcement organization, is unique in its composition, challenges, and service to the community. It has a wealth of experience and a demanding training regimen aimed at keeping its officers at the forefront of the profession. Dedicated to serving the community it protects, the Oneida Nation Police Department has adopted a philosophy of community policing through community partnerships.

Created in 1993, the Oneida Nation Police Department has become an integral part of Central New York's law enforcement community. Working closely with state, county, and local police agencies, the Oneida Nation's 39 sworn officers and six non-sworn employees preserve the peace and protect the property of the Oneida Nation and its Members in Central New York's Madison and Oneida Counties. They also are responsible for the safety of the more than 3.4 million visitors each year to the Oneida Nation's Turning Stone Casino Resort, as well as the 3,000 employees who work at the Oneida Nation's businesses and government offices.

From the beginning, the goal of the Oneida Nation Police has been to create a force second to none in experience and professionalism. Commissioned as Bureau of Indian Affairs Deputy Special Officers under the U. S. Department of the Interior, the Oneida Nation's force is the third largest tribal police agency in the country. Officers investigate violations of the General Crimes Act and Major Crimes Act pursuant to Title 18 of the U.S. Code. Members of the Department's Bureau of Investigation also conduct criminal, non-criminal, and background employment investigations for the Oneida Nation's enterprises. In November 1998, the Oneida Nation Police Department was accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), a group that sets standards for professionalism and assesses agency success in meeting or exceeding each individual standard. The department is the first tribal police force to be accredited in the United States and only the seventh police department to receive CALEA accreditation in New York State.

In a short time, the Oneida Nation Police Department has gained considerable recognition of its efforts and dedication to the highest standards of police work. The department has consciously recruited veteran law enforcement professionals for its staff positions. Oneida Nation police officers have nearly 1,000 combined years of service as state troopers, police chiefs, sheriffs, deputies, and municipal police officers. They bring with them considerable experience in demanding specializations that include disaster preparedness, task force operations, hostage negotiation, major case management, and emergency medical technician certification, to name only a few.

The Oneida Nation Police Department has an abiding dedication to the highest standards of police work. Its Office of Internal Affairs, Research and Development Section, and Inspection Staff remain at the forefront in all aspects of its operation, professionalism, and service to the community. All of this has created a superbly trained and respected force whose assistance is routinely sought by other community agencies.

Read the explanation of the symbolism behind the Nation Police seal.