St. Regis Mohawk Tribal police chief fired over cash payments for impounded vehicles
St. Regis Mohawk Tribal police chief Andrew Thomas has been fired following a probe into cash payments for towing and storage fees for impounded vehicles, the St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Police Commission said Thursday.
APTN National News
AKWESASNE–St. Regis Mohawk Tribal police Chief Andrew Thomas has been fired following a probe into cash payments received by the police force for towing and storage fees for impounded vehicles, the St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Police Commission said Thursday.
The police commission said in a statement Thomas was fired on July 24.
Thomas is facing disciplinary charges filed July 7 from the commission for gross misconduct and disregard for tribal and regulatory policies and failure to reconcile receipts and funds, the statement said.
Thomas appeared before a disciplinary hearing on July 15 and the police commission voted unanimously to terminate his employment.
The investigation was triggered by a query from a community member about the police department’s taking of cash payments for impounded vehicles.
A spokesperson for the St. Regis Tribe said the police commission would not be issuing any further comment.
Matthew Rourke is currently the acting tribal police chief.
The St. Regis Tribe governs the U.S.-side of Akwesasne, a Mohawk community which straddles the Canada-U.S. border about 120 km west of Montreal.
