Agreement Reached on Policing Between Mashpee Wampanoag and Town

MASHPEE – Mashpee Selectmen have signed an agreement with the Wampanoag Tribe over how to provide public safety on the tribe’s sovereign land.

The agreement was approved before by the tribal council before reaching selectmen this week.

The agreement enables the fire department to first call tribal police if there is an incident, and if they don’t respond, Mashpee Police will be called in.

“If they need a backup they can call us and we will be there immediately, but unless we are requested it is their show,” said Police Chief Scott Carline.

The tribe also has a mutual aid agreement with the city of Taunton for its casino land and is working on an agreement to have a booking room and holding cell at the Barnstable County Correctional Facility.

“I’m confident that we can each concentrate on maintaining the priority of public safety within Mashpee,” said Carline.