Osage Nation Police Department Hosts Training to Increase Awareness of Human Trafficking

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OSAGE RESERVATION, OKLA. (October 17, 2023) – The Osage Nation Police Department (ONPD) hosted a training class at the Osage Casino in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, to educate local law enforcement agencies that serve the Osage Nation reservation and bordering communities. 

As the community of Pawhuska celebrates the new Osage Casino recently being added, the ONPD prepares to prevent and protect the Osage Nation and surrounding factions on the Osage Nation reservation from the risk of Human Trafficking. 

According to Kennedy, “ONPD Chief and Public Safety Cabinet Secretary Nick Williams holds a vision for the future and knows that with having hotels attached to our casinos, this danger could be an issue.” With this concern, Williams directed Lieutenant Kennedy to help all law enforcement agencies and staff to become as well-versed in prevention and protection as possible. 

“We are excited to work with the Osage Casino staff to make our community safer for families to enjoy the establishment,” states ONPD Lieutenant Michael Kennedy.  “I collaborated with the United States Attorney General’s Office and the Tulsa Police Department, who graciously sent instructors to education our officers.”

The agencies that benefitted from the training include the ONPD, ON Attorney General’s Office, Pawhuska Police Department, Skiatook Police Department, Hominy Police Department, Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse, Quapaw Marshals, Catoosa Police Department, Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Osage County Sheriff’s Office, Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, Grand River Dam Authority, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, and the State of Oklahoma Department of Corrections. 

The City of Pawhuska Police Chief, Lori Hennessey, commented “the training itself was very informational and benefited us all.”  

For more information about the ONPD, please visit https://www.osagenation-nsn.gov/services/law-enforcement-department. 

Contact Information: 

1071 Grandview Lane
Pawhuska, OK 74056

Main Phone: 918-287-5510

Emergency: Dial 9-1-1

Chief of ONPD: Nicholas J. Williams

Assistant Chief of Police: Marchmont BigEagle