Chickasaw Nation Supervisory Prosecutor Emilee Hoff has been named Region IV Prosecutor of the Year by the Association of Oklahoma Narcotic Enforcers (A-ONE).
Hoff is a Chickasaw citizen and one of eight full-time prosecutors who prosecute an average of 2,100 criminal cases per year, according to Chickasaw Nation Chief Counsel Debra Gee.
“Since 2021, Emilee has focused on developing her trial advocacy skills and learning as much as she can about prosecuting criminal cases,” Gee said. “In this time, Emilee has developed an expertise in prosecuting drug cases.”
The recent honor was based on this expertise and for her ongoing, solution-oriented collaboration with the tribe’s many public safety partners across the state.
Hoff received the award Aug. 7 at the annual A-ONE awards banquet in Catoosa, Oklahoma, and said her first reaction to the news of receiving the award was pure shock.
“Once that initial reaction wore off, I was met with a sense of great gratitude,” Hoff said. “There are not many times professionals in our field get recognized, and I was grateful to know that the impact I made on other colleagues and agencies led them to nominate me for this award.”
Hoff was nominated by Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OBN) Agent Veronica Medina, who noted Hoff’s dedication and exemplary collaborative approach to drug prosecutions.
“Hoff not only collaborates with OBN, but with over 70 law enforcement agencies throughout the Chickasaw Nation,” Medina said. “Her dedication in prosecuting narcotics cases, combined with building and maintaining relationships, has consistently ensured justice prevails.”
Founded in 1985, A-ONE is a statewide organization whose membership includes hundreds of law enforcement officers and prosecutors representing state, federal, tribal and municipal agencies.
“We work closely with OBN, which is a cross-commissioned agency of the Chickasaw Lighthorse Police Department,” Gee said. “We have a shared goal with both OBN and A-ONE to enforce drug laws and prosecute drug offenses. Several of our prosecutors, including Emilee, have attended the prosecution trainings sponsored by A-ONE.”
Gee said the trainings and partnerships A-ONE offer greatly enhance the Chickasaw Nation’s public safety efforts and aid prosecutors in finding services that can best help individuals who find themselves on the wrong end of a criminal drug case.
“Emilee is a prosecutor who cares about each individual and will be the person to ask if we have resources available to help them,” Gee said. “She is not a prosecutor who focuses on wins and losses.”
Healing to Wellness
For Emilee and other Chickasaw Nation prosecutors a “win” does not always equate to punishment and jail time. In 2023, the Chickasaw Nation established Masali: Healing to Wellness Court to help First Americans address certain drug and alcohol offenses. Hoff is her office’s representative on this special court.
The Masali: Healing to Wellness Court focuses on reconciliation, healing and a person’s overall wellness. It follows many Indigenous forms of justice that embrace a restorative, holistic approach that prioritizes healing over punishment.
This open, flexible mindset allows prosecutors to approach each case with a wider range of tactics that ultimately leads to better outcomes and to healthier, safer communities.
“Some criminal cases can and should be diverted from the traditional criminal prosecution in favor of a healing to wellness court approach,” Gee said.
This ability to seek results that offer hope and healing is very gratifying for Hoff.
“We believe our role isn’t just about punishment — it’s about preventing future harm and supporting rehabilitation,” Hoff said. “One of my favorite aspects of being a prosecutor is the opportunity to seek justice that truly serves the communities within the Chickasaw Nation.”
For Hoff, this ethos comes from the core of who she is as a person and from the greater mission that all tribal employees share: “To enhance the overall quality of life of the Chickasaw people.”
“Every case is a chance to make a meaningful impact, not just by holding people accountable, but also ensuring fairness, protecting victims and helping build public trust in the legal system,” Hoff said.
A-ONE Awards
Several Chickasaw Nation public safety partners were also recognized at the 2025 A-ONE awards banquet. Cpl. Jared Johnson and K-9 Riggs of the Ardmore Police Department were named Region IV K-9 Team of the Year, and Parker Green of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics was honored as Region IV Officer of the Year.
Hoff is the third Chickasaw Nation representative to be honored by A-ONE in recent years. In 2020, Chickasaw Lighthorse Police Capt. Chad Hillis and his K-9 partner, Beny, were named Region IV K-9 Team of the Year, and in 2023, then Chickasaw Nation supervisory prosecutor Jack Coppedge was recognized as the Region IV Prosecutor of the Year.