Police and Fire Service Deal Lapses Between Mashpee Tribe and Town

MASHPEE – A memorandum of understanding between the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Town of Mashpee has expired.

The agreement, signed last year between both parties, outlined how the town and tribe would provide police and fire services on tribal land.

Selectmen decided against renewing the deal as they said that there was a six-month gap in communication between them after there was two unanswered letters sent from Selectman Chair Andrew Gottlieb and Tribal Council Chair Cedric Cromwell.

Last summer a judge rejected the federal government’s decision to place 170 acres of land in Mashpee and 151 in Taunton into trust for the tribe.

A letter sent in June discussed how Gottlieb saw the relationship between the town and tribe, where he and Cromwell would discuss matters one-on-one.

A second letter was sent in August where Gottlieb said that he wanted to talk about the procedures for emergency response in light of the judge’s ruling.

“In addressing the issues that came up with the extension were not knowing and not hearing back from the tribe what their view on these matters was,” said Gottlieb. “We were reluctant to proceed to not understanding fully the impact of the legal proceedings on our ability to engage in those types of agreements.”

The tribe and the federal government are appealing the judge’s decision.

The town sent a letter to the federal government last summer to seek its opinion on the status of the land but has not received a response.

Despite the agreement lapsing, the tribe voted to extend the deal between the towns, but selectmen are seeking questions about the status of the tribe’s land.

Selectmen are expected to discuss the matter at their meeting on January 23 and will seek the advice of town counsel.

Despite the agreement lapsing, Gottlieb ensures that everything will be fine until a new deal is reached.

“Everyone is going to receive the protections that they would expect from police and fire in the town of Mashpee and all efforts will be made to continue to coordinate with tribal authorities should there be a need to enter tribal lands to provide first responder services,” said Gottlieb.

By JUSTIN SAUNDERS, CapeCod.com Newscenter