|
(Lincoln, NE) Attorney General Jon Bruning and Gov. Dave Heineman signed a Deputization Law Enforcement Agreement and a Contract for Law Enforcement Services today with the Oglala Sioux Tribe that will allow deputized tribal officers to patrol a two-square-mile area around the unincorporated village of Whiteclay, Neb.
Attorney General Bruning said, “Everyone involved in this process has the same interest – ensuring the public safety in and around Whiteclay. The combined efforts of the Nebraska State Patrol, the Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office and the Pine Ridge Police Department will be a big step forward in the fight against crime in the area. This is an historic agreement, and we welcome a new era of cooperation between the tribe and the State of Nebraska.”
Gov. Heineman said, “This agreement allows qualified law enforcement officers from our neighbors in Pine Ridge to help us ensure that the laws of Nebraska are followed. I am grateful to the Oglala Sioux Tribe, to the Attorney General and to our own Nebraska State Patrol for being willing to work together on this creative solution.”
Oglala Sioux Tribal President Cecilia Fire Thunder said, “The key to this agreement is partnerships. Our boundaries, state lines and jurisdictions have previously hampered our law enforcement efforts. By coordinating our resources, we are taking an important step forward in working together to address crime in the Whiteclay area. We look forward to having even more dialogue to address other issues along the border.”
The agreement, which is the first of its kind in Nebraska, will allow tribal officers who have been certified by the State of Nebraska to arrest both Native and non-Native lawbreakers in the specified area. All of those arrested, regardless of race, will be taken immediately to a responsible official of the State of Nebraska or Sheridan County and have their cases tried in state or federal court. The Nebraska State Patrol and Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office will continue their patrols of the area.
Qualified tribal officers will begin the process of certification after the agreement becomes effective. To be deputized, Oglala Sioux law enforcement officers must comply with all Nebraska statutory requirements for appointment as a police officer. Public notice will be given to Native and non-Native residents in the area when any new tribal officers are certified under the terms of the deputization agreement.
|
