Chickasaw Lighthorse investigators focus on missing and murdered Indigenous people

ADA, Okla. (KFOR) — Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police say they are constantly inundated with missing persons cases. This is also a problem across the country.

“It’s been a problem forever,” said Ross Ericsson, Chickasaw Lighthorse investigator.

One year after the U.S. Supreme Court's historic decision in the McGirt case, the Chickasaw Lighthorse Police Department was forever changed.

“That’s when the Supreme Court ruled that the jurisdictional boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation were never removed,” Chickasaw Lighthorse Police Chief Charles Palmer said.

Instantly, responsibilities and staff increased.

Chief Palmer says they are now the size of the Moore Police Department and span a large jurisdiction. They are also receiving 8,000 more calls than before and the crimes are more serious.

“In First American communities, the rate of violent crime is higher in those communities than in non-First American communities,” Palmer said. “And then they are at increased risk of being victimized.”

Some of the calls involve Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP).

In 2020, the department worked with several other law enforcement agencies to determine how many MMIPs they were experiencing.

“We took one of our criminal investigators and we specifically tasked him with working on missing persons cases within the Chickasaw Nation,” Palmer said.

This is where investigator Ross Ericsson comes in.

“Our numbers are increasing every year,” Ericcson said.

On January 1 alone, Ericsson claims to have received 35 missing people, 38 runaways and five kidnappings. Most cases are resolved quickly, thanks to their policy and procedures.

“What do these numbers tell you? » asked News 4.

“The underlying problem is some kind of abuse, and it could be physical abuse, sexual abuse or substance abuse,” Ericcson said.

“When these officers come in, they can look at all these factors and questions are asked,” Ericsson said. “We can create a profile of this model.”

Other cases take longer.

Since 2022, Ericsson has worked on 38 long-term MMIP cases, of which 33 have been resolved.

“Cold cases are the hardest. I have cases dating back to the 70s,” Ericsson said.

Ericcson says First Americans are a proud people, but emphasizes the importance of reporting a missing person immediately.

You can submit a confidential tip and view the latest cold cases here.

“What’s fresh in their minds right now won’t be fresh tomorrow,” Ericsson said. “We can be trusted. »