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The following is for informational purposes only

US Tribal Police

Who are Tribal Police?

US Tribal Police

Tribal police are the law enforcement agents that keep the peace, enforce laws and protect citizens within Native American/Indian reservations. In America, there are more than 200 tribal police departments, ranging in size from two to three officers to more than 200 hundred.

Tribal police perform many of the same functions as regular police including investigating crime, dealing with traffic violations and accidents, arresting people, search and rescue, court security and public service. These tribal police officers are called sheriffs, constables, regulators, and even lighthorsemen (Indian mounted police force) and they work closely with other law enforcement agencies in many capacities.

According to the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975, tribal police may establish government functions; however, they see fit as long as they are in conjunction with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).

There are five main civilized American Indian tribes in the U.S. They are Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole. Any federally recognized tribes that reside in states not governed by Public Law 280 67 Stat. 588 (1953), must institute a democratic government with three branches (executive, legislative, and judicial).

Additionally, the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975 (also known as Public Law 93-638), “establishes the department’s organizational framework and performance standards and basic funding for the police function”.

 

History

US Tribal Police

Tribal police date back to 1869 when Thomas Lightfoot became the first United States Indian Agent representing the Iowa, Sac and Fox Indian tribes in Nebraska. His was the first Federally-sponsored police force.

Four years later, replacing a treaty with Indian tribes with the reservation system, U.S. Commissioner Francis A. Walker suggested instead that: “The reservation system affords the place for thus dealing with tribes and bands, without the access of influences inimical to peace and virtue. It is only necessary that Federal laws, judiciously framed to meet all the facts of the case, and enacted in season, before the Indians begin to scatter, shall place all the members of this race under a strict reformatory control by the agents of the Government".

Thus, began the formation of tribal police and separation of federal and state law enforcement by allowing tribal nations to govern themselves. Laws and traditions have evolved over time, and tribal police now work closely with local and federal law enforcement especially when incidents that fall under federal jurisdiction take place on tribal lands.

Tribal Police vs. Cops

US Tribal Police

Tribal police forces are generally organized much like a regular police force with officers reporting to the Chief of Police. Their duties are not limited to but may include court appearances, court security, reporting and investigating crimes, arresting people who break the law, helping other officers and whenever possible preventing someone from breaking the law.

Each member of the force must be familiar with the Tribal Law and Order Code as well as other applicable laws and ordinances for the reservation. Tribal officers may not use unnecessary force or violence when arresting or detaining suspects. As a matter of respect for the tribe, officers may not use narcotics or excess alcohol. Excessive use of profanity, offensive or vulgar language is also frowned upon in tribal police forces. Tribal police are held to high standards of respect for and proper treatment of equipment used to do their jobs. Each officer is expected to obey all rules and follow any orders given by the Chief officer.

Tribal police are entirely responsible for training new officers and the training received may differ slightly or widely from that of a local or state officer. State, local and tribal police officers are instructed to work together whenever necessary and form joint task forces for longer, more complex cases.

Often tribal police hire officers who are not Indian, or members of other tribes to diversity and learn from a broader range of education, cultures and information.

 

Tribal Police Types

Within the tribal police system, there are a few different types of organizations and officers, each with varying degrees of authority and duties.

  • Tribal Police Officers - first there are standard tribal police who operate much like a local officers keeping the peace, making arrests and investigating crimes. Many tribes replaced their old-school hereditary chief system with tribal police and a more formal governmental structure.
  • The Bureau of Indian Affairs Police also known as BIA is a United States arm of the law that polices tribes and reservations who do not have their own police force. They also oversee other police forces, and their services are provided by the Office of Justice Services Division of Law Enforcement. BIA officers are federally employed officers hired to uphold Title 16, Title 18, and Title 21 of the United States Code, as well as the Code of Federal Regulations. Historically this job was handled by Indian agency police.
  • The United States Indian Police (USIP) was founded in 1880 by John Q. Tufts, the Indian Commissioner in Muskogee, Indian Territory. His job was to police the Five Civilized Tribes. Some U.S. Indian Police officers are also U.S. Deputy Marshalls and can cross jurisdictional lines to perform their police duties. The first USIP training academy in Roswell New Mexico was designed to train officers in criminal investigation. The modern training academy located in Artesia, New Mexico is focused more on Indian Country Justice Services to "prevent crimes, reduce recidivism, and support tribal justice systems".

Tribal Police Departments

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