The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) recently approved funding for the creation of a Highway Patrol Division of the Kahnawà:ke Mohawk Peacekeepers and the creation of eight (8) new Peacekeeper positions for a period of five (5) years, effective April 1, 2024.
The total 5-year budget for the creation of a Highway Patrol Division is approximately $4,506,871.76. Funding for year one is the costliest due to training requirements and initial outfitting of the officers. The $1,059,406.59 required for this phase of the project will be transferred immediately, with the remaining annual budget transfers occurring at the beginning of each Fiscal Year.
“This was a much-needed decision due to the increase in traffic through the community, growing population in the surrounding municipalities, and increased traffic attributed to local businesses. A stronger Peacekeeper presence on our roadways would address many of these issues and act as a deterrent to unsafe drivers,” said Public Safety Portfolio lead Ryan Montour.
“Compounding the need for more officers is the growth of our community and increased policing needs that come with that. We needed to act in the best interest of our community members, and to provide more support to our women and men in blue, who have worked tirelessly to meet the growing demands being placed on them,” added Montour. The creation of the Highway Patrol Division was approved by the Peacekeepers Services Board in late 2023, and the recruitment and implementation plan will be carried out by the Kahnawà:ke Mohawk Peacekeepers.
