Our History
The Stl'atl'imx Tribal Police Service evolved from a security program implemented by the Lillooet Band Council in 1986 to becoming the only Tribal Police Service in British Columbia today in 2020. Under the original security program, security personnel patrolled reserve areas, engaged in preventative work, and reported criminal activity to the RCMP as appropriate.
In 1988 the Lillooet Tribal Council expanded the concept by creating a peacekeeping program for the Lillooet Tribe. Eight peacekeepers were assigned to the St'at'imc Nation communities of T'it'q'et, Tsal'alh, and Lil'wat Nation.
In 1992 a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between seven St'at'imc Nation communities, the Solicitor General of Canada and the Attorney General of the province of British Columbia, which established the peacekeeping program as a tribal policing pilot project.
The Memorandum of Understanding included a Protocol Agreement with the RCMP which, as the provincial police force, retained jurisdictional authority in the participating communities. The pilot project was funded by the federal and provincial governments.
Over the next few years, modifications were made to the initial Memorandum of Understanding, including the signing of additional St'at'imc Nation communities and in 1999 the STPS was established as a designated policing force unit and police force, with full jurisdictional authority under the Policing Act (s.4.1 - 4.2).
A five year Tripartite Agreement was signed between the ten participating St'at'imc Nation communities, the federal and provincial governments. The STPS - RCMP Protocol Agreement was amended to reflect the increased role of the STPS.
The Stl'atl'imx Tribal Police Service continues to provide policing services in the ten participating St'at'imc Nation communities and continue to have a positive working relationship with the RCMP.
In 1988 the Lillooet Tribal Council expanded the concept by creating a peacekeeping program for the Lillooet Tribe. Eight peacekeepers were assigned to the St'at'imc Nation communities of T'it'q'et, Tsal'alh, and Lil'wat Nation.
In 1992 a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between seven St'at'imc Nation communities, the Solicitor General of Canada and the Attorney General of the province of British Columbia, which established the peacekeeping program as a tribal policing pilot project.
The Memorandum of Understanding included a Protocol Agreement with the RCMP which, as the provincial police force, retained jurisdictional authority in the participating communities. The pilot project was funded by the federal and provincial governments.
Over the next few years, modifications were made to the initial Memorandum of Understanding, including the signing of additional St'at'imc Nation communities and in 1999 the STPS was established as a designated policing force unit and police force, with full jurisdictional authority under the Policing Act (s.4.1 - 4.2).
A five year Tripartite Agreement was signed between the ten participating St'at'imc Nation communities, the federal and provincial governments. The STPS - RCMP Protocol Agreement was amended to reflect the increased role of the STPS.
The Stl'atl'imx Tribal Police Service continues to provide policing services in the ten participating St'at'imc Nation communities and continue to have a positive working relationship with the RCMP.
