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JULY 11, 2000

The Jay Treaty of 1794 is responsible for the peace officer certification of Russ E Jock, a Tohono O'odham police officer who had sought after the designation from the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Board.

The Board had told Jock he was ineligible for certification because he is a Canadian citizen. He is a member of the Saint Regis Mohawk Nation in New York, but his mother gave birth to him in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada.

But the Board changed their mind and recently decided to grant Jock certification. They stated that Jock is a citizen for purposes of Arizona law.

The Jay Treaty was signed between the United States and Great Britain and states that indigenous people whose nations straddle political borders can freely travel between countries for employment and other services.

Get the Story:
Old, obscure treaty allows O'odham cop to be certified (The Arizona Daily Star 7/11)

Relevant Links:
The Jay Treaty of 1794 - www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/diplomacy/jay.htm