Spokane7
35°
February 7, 2010 in Opinion
Benewah sheriff’s take on tribal cops wrong
In a reasonable world, a public-safety measure like one the Idaho Legislature should see in the coming days would not be necessary. But sometimes the world is decidedly unreasonable – like the part under the jurisdiction of Benewah County Sheriff Bob Kirts.
Kirts refuses to restore an agreement that would empower Coeur d’Alene Indian tribal police to enforce state laws against nontribal members on the Coeur d’Alene Reservation, the southern half of which lies in Benewah County. The result is a bewildering web of inefficiencies that seems to have sprung from Alice’s Wonderland.
If, for example, a tribal officer spots an erratic driver weaving menacingly down U.S. 95 near Plummer, he can pull the motorist over and take whatever enforcement action is necessary – so long as the offender is a tribal member. If it’s a nontribal member – and they outnumber tribal members six to one on the reservation – he has to call in either the county sheriff’s office or the Idaho State Police.
On the rural and sometimes remote reservation, that can take hours, tying up both tribal and nontribal officers for wasteful periods. And sometimes there’s no response at all, or only after such a delay that the officer has to turn the dangerous driver loose.
A few miles north, in Kootenai County, it’s a different story. The tribal officer would have authority to arrest the driver and send the case to state court. Kootenai County Sheriff Rocky Watson has approved the kind of agreement that Kirts refuses.
Now, delete “erratic driving” and substitute “domestic violence” or “burglary” or other serious felonies that don’t constitute major offenses that would bring the FBI to the reservation. A qualified tribal officer should not have to radio for help in such situations and wait, possibly hours, for it to arrive.
In Wonderland maybe, but not in Benewah County.
All of this is why the tribe is asking for a law that would establish conditions under which its officers could acquire state enforcement powers on the reservation even if the local sheriff was as unaccommodating as Kirts. One of those conditions calls for tribal officers to be certified, which they already are. The tribe would also have to carry liability insurance and waive sovereignty protection against lawsuits. That concept works in Washington, and it could work in Idaho.
To comment about this editorial online, go to www.spokesman.com and click on Opinion under the Topics menu.
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spikevg on February 07 at 4:15 p.m.
Here is a newspapers opinion that was not investigated before giving the writers opinion. And opinion by someone that does not give his or her name. In Sunday February 7, 2009 opinion was such example.
My problem is if you do not know about working relations with an Indian Tribe or have or investigated what you are going to give an opinion on then keep your thought to yourself. I will give my opinion here because I have had training in working with a Tribe and have worked with two different Tribes in Idaho.
My first opinion is that Sgt. Christie Woods of Coeur d’ Alene Police Department should have kept her opinion to herself. Being a officer of another agency, even if she is on this Human Right committee, she should not be making public comments about another law enforcement officer.
My second opinion or statement is that no elected officer has absolute control over his or her office. Most everything must be put before the county commissioners. This policy for the cross deputization is really fairly new and must be voted on my the commissioners. And that and there is your problem or most of it in Benewah County. Take a step back and remember to the summer that the Buell’s were boating Coeur d’ Alene Lake. Does anyone else remember what happened??? I do and their is your problem as the why the Coeur d’ Alene Tribe is no longer cross deputized in Benewah county.
So you all blaming Sheriff Bob Kirts is wrong and slanderous to him. You all owe him a public apology.
There is another way that the Tribal officers can handle the stops without calling for backup. They could send all the information on the stop and person stopped to the County Prosecuting Attorney and he can and could file charges against the driver. But then you would have the same problem with a certain person, however the law is the law and some people aren’t god. There are some very excellent Prosecuting attorneys in the State that would prosecute. I have taken classes from County Prosecutor and Tribal prosecutors working together to make sure we in law enforcement were trained.
Check my facts and if the prove to be right then please apologize to Sheriff Kirts, he is NOT the bad guy.
Vicki Gehring
Post Falls, ID
spikevg on February 07 at 4:49 p.m.
I just read an article in the Lewiston Morning Tribune. You should have read it before giving you opinion. Read and print it in your paper tomorrow.
It states that the State of Idaho Sheriff’s Association is against this. Should have checked your facts.!!!!
Marc_Stewart on February 07 at 5:20 p.m.
Sheriff Kirts terminated the cross deputization agreement with the Coeur d’Alene Tribe on Jan. 8 2007. He is the only one in Benewah County with the authority to enter into cooperative law enforcement agreements with the tribe.
The Tribe has worked very hard with Sheriff Kirts to resolve this situation but has been unsuccessful. The tribal police are forced to release individuals because Benewah County is routinely unable or unwilling to send officers.
Amazing on February 07 at 5:34 p.m.
I found an interesting junxtiposition with this editorial opinion and the front page of the same day’s paper, which is the ongoing battle with hate groups in Idaho.
It appears to seem that NO law enforcement is better than letting tribal law enforcement do the job. So if the problem is with the county sheriff or the county commissioners, or rich people thinking they can get away with anything, it really does not matter. The results are the same: no law enforcement. The elected or appointed government/law enforcement officials are not meeting the needs of of the residents of Benewah County. The question is - Why?
Maybe the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations needs to open a branch office in Benewah County.
As to any residents of Benewah County living on tribal land who object to the cross deputizing of tribal law enforcement officers there is a simple answer. Move off of tribal land. If you are living there you should be subject to the same jurisdiction. It is called same justice for all.
If you were to go to a foreign country and break the law, you are subject to that country’s laws, not the US laws. Oh, wait a minute, you do have 10 Idahoians testing this one out in Hati.
Please respect and deal with the fact you have “Domestic Soverign Nations” in Idaho.
Angielee on February 07 at 6:46 p.m.
Wow, interesting article and the 4 comments, well, what can I say to that?
I think that reporters should have to report all information, not leave out what they don’t agree with. So, for those of you who are uninformed, here are more details, if the paper will allow it to be printed. By the way, it is easy enough to find what is being passed and read up on it. You just have to do the research.
Kudo’s to Sheriff Kirts; we who live at the south end of Lake Coeur d’Alene, know what you have been thru regarding cross- deputization. And a lot of us are behind you 110%.
Maybe we should begin by giving a true definition of Reservation. Reservation land is land owned by Indians, or held in trust by the US Government for the tribal people. Reservation land does not include land that is owned by non-Indians. This is very important, and the public should know this. As a land owner, I pay county and state and federal taxes to the US government. Not to a tribal, sovereign nation. Especially when I cannot even vote in that said government.
Were you, the reporter of this story aware, that the law they are pushing in Boise, could require non tribal or non Indians to go into Tribal court? They tried it before, what makes you think they would not try again? Amazing how these bits of information are left out.. I do not live in a foreign country, and I should not have to go into a tribal courtroom. Besides, this is not a public safety measure; it is intended to give the tribe more power. The tribal casino sure can buy votes down in Boise, if you know the right people, eh?
And finally, why am I a racist, when I am only defending myself, and I believe in HUMAN rights? It always amazes me how people are deemed racist, when they don’t agree. I guess it is the fastest way to turn people away from the truth.
spokelooneh on February 07 at 6:56 p.m.
Thanks Mr. Stewart, and Amazing.
No other sign of intelligent life here.
Marc_Stewart on February 07 at 7:01 p.m.
The law the tribe is proposing would allow tribal officers to cite or arrest non-tribal members into state court. It is pure fiction to suggest the bill says otherwise.
The state court system would have the authority over any alleged violations of Idaho law. The tribe would also waive its sovereign immunity allowing non-Indians the ability to sue the tribe in state and federal court in the case of an alleged abuse. In addition, tribal officers would have to be Idaho POST certified officers to enforce state law.
Orphan on February 07 at 7:27 p.m.
The Coeur D Alene tribe are their own nation so deputizing them is like giving a Mexican official permission to arrest US citizens. If your on Tribal lands obey their laws just like you were in a forign country. If you cant obey the Coeur D Alene’s rules stay off of their land. If you purchased land within the borders of the reservation you knew you were buying on the reservation, RIGHT. When the Indians come on to US soil and break the law then take them to court, fine and or jail them just like they are on forign soil. Problem solved.
I have to support the Sheriff on this one.
Equalitylaw on February 08 at 9:03 a.m.
The writer obviously has no clue about the complexity of such an arrangement, even assuming these tribal officers have met and been verified as meeting the mandatory state qualifications for deputy Sheriffs.
First of all do these tribal police officers swear an oath of office to uphold the United States Constitution and the Idaho state Constitution protecting the civil rights of all non-Indian citizens who might be detained and arrested?
In the event of misconduct on the part of the tribal police officers can they be disciplined or discharged by the Coiunty Sheriff or does the Sheriff have to rely upon “tribal discipline” fraught with nepotism, favoritism and other improper influences?
Can third parties to this agreement (not the Sheriff or Benewah County) sue the tribe and the tribal officers for misconduct or negligence in their duties and sue them in a righteous court of law such as the County and State Courts of Idaho (or even the Federal District Court) not some “Indian” court system?
Often a so-called waiver of tribal immunity is worthless and uninforcable or is restricted to a suit between the Sheriff and the County on one side and the tribe on the other and therefor creates no third party rights to citizens, nor does it create any third party rights to sue, that may be brought by non-Indian citizens who are damaged or injured by tribal police misconduct or negligence. Or are such suits limited to bringing suit in the tribe’s “court system” and restricted to issues under so called “tribal law” and not the laws of the state of Idaho or the United States?
Generally a third party law suit against a tribal police officer will be barred by the court created, common law, tribal legal immunity doctrine, no matter how outrageous the conduct is. If a citizens sued such an officer the tribe would claim the tribe is a “necessary party” to such suit, and then move to dismiss that suit on the basis the tribe cannot be joined in the suit because they have immunity and have not consented to such a suit! In short, the injured citizen is left dangling without legal rights and could perhaps sue the County of Benewah for entering into such a contract giving up their legal rights by this “agreement” or for failing to provide adequate supervision of tribal police activities under the agreement!
.
Lastly, in as much as there are 6 TO 1 non-Indian residents in the portion of the reservation in Benewah county according to this article, why is it a surprise that these citizens want to have their law enforcement provided by the Sheriff they elect and police officers who are under the jurisdiction and control of their own government?
Phaedrus on February 08 at 9:37 a.m.
“Take a step back and remember to the summer that the Buell’s were boating Coeur d’ Alene Lake. Does anyone else remember what happened??? I do and their is your problem as the why the Coeur d’ Alene Tribe is no longer cross deputized in Benewah county.” Vicki Gehring
Vicki you are wrong. Cross deputization anded in 2006, the Buell racism incidence took place after it had already ended. Is Krits afraid of not getting reelected if he crosses Jack Buell? Probably.
nontribalstilltribal on February 08 at 9:49 a.m.
I am a tribal member but not of the Coeur D’Alene Tribe and I reside on the Coeur D’Alene Reservation. I have been reading the stories in this matter and my biggest problem is how benewah county residents that DON’T live on the reservation have so much to say about how the law enforcement is handled here. As a matter of public safety, YOU ARE SAFE! If a non tribal member decides to do any harm to tribal members OR members of our community that arent tribal they get set free? Because of a technicality? And someone brought up the lake incident again, where a non tribal member tried to strike one of our officers because of there status in Benewah County. If the county commissioners wife thinks she can assault a tribal officer, what does the rest of Benewah County think?
Orphan commented “When the Indians come on to US soil and break the law then take them to court, fine and or jail them just like they are on forign soil. Problem solved.” That is already the case. If we leave the reservation we are subject to the laws wherever we are. And I agree with orphans comment ” If you cant obey the Coeur D Alene’s rules stay off of their land.” Don’t buy land or live here if you think you arent subject to their rules- drive all the way around the lake to get to Coeur D’Alene and Spokane and find another means to transport your logs and find another way to get to Moscow/Pullman area. A little ridiculous, dont you think? Problem there though is the non tribal members living ON the reservation itself. How can you live in a community and think you don’t need to follow the laws there? On the other end of that though we have plenty of non tribal members that do take a big part in helping make our community better so I dont think removing all non tribal members is the answer either. As this story gets more and more play in the media, it’s grabbing the attention of criminals who want to traffic drugs or what not that they can do whatever they want on the reservation and get away with it!
Benewah County is soooo scared that we will gain power only because they feel they have the upper hand here. They don’t care if our community members, tribal or not are being victimized because of the lack of help for them. They don’t care because they don’t have any community ties here! And every chance they get to vote against the betterment of the community, such as the school, they vote against it. Yet when something like this comes up they all jump on the wagon to bash the tribe.
As for everyone saying Sherrif Kirts isnt the bad guy, then what is he? He is the one with the power to agree or disagree and he refuses to agree.
Basic facts about this whole matter- the STATE will have the power in dealing with criminals on the reservation in a STATE court. The Tribe is doing everything it can on its part to make sure that their citizens are safe- tribal AND non tribal.
Now on a personal note. How would you feel if you couldnt be protected in your own home because of the decision of one man that would allow a criminal to abuse your home, yourself or your family members and be let free? The story would be alot different then if you were subject to these issues yourself!
Bottom line, our community needs this to be SAFE!!!!
Marc_Stewart on February 08 at 11:01 a.m.
Under the provisions of the proposed law, the Governor of Idaho and the Idaho Peace Officers Standards and Training could revoke any tribal officer’s certification if there was an abuse of authority or officer misconduct.
The same standards of professionalism, conduct and ethics would apply to tribal officers as the Idaho State Police, sheriffs, or city police officers.
Any tribal officer who has been decertified would not be able to enforce state law. All Coeur d’Alene Tribal police officers are certified through Idaho POST. They enforce state laws in Kootenai County on a daily basis. The sky hasn’t fallen. There haven’t been problems.
The proposed law would allow tribes and tribal officers to be subject to state and federal lawsuits. Tribal courts do NOT factor into this piece of legislation. The idea that it does is being spread by the opposition and it is simply not true.
Any one who would like to see a copy of the bill, can contract me at 686-2023.
There is no risk to the sheriff or the state of Idaho. It won’t cost taxpayers a dime. It will improve efficiency in law enforcement and enhance public safety for all residents of Benewah County.
mtngardener on February 08 at 11:25 a.m.
I feel a little bad that Kirts is getting all the heat when we all know it’s more than just a sheriff’s office problem. But he did not handle it well and definitely cast aspersions on the tribal cops. Made me wonder what Temi Holdahl (current mayor of St. Maries) thinks as she is a post certified tribal cop, a sergeant , and,at least in 2005, was post certified as a firearms instructor.
Angielee needs to read the proposal that NICA so obligingly distributed. It specifically states that the tribal officers would act under state law, that all trials would be in state court, that all fees and fines would not go to the tribe, that the tribe would carry insurance on the officers and “Each policy of insurance issued pursuant to this chapter shall include a provision that the insurance shall be available to satisfy settlements or judgments arising from conduct of tribal peace officers when engaged in the enforcement of Idaho state laws, and that, to the extent of policy coverage, neither the Tribal government nor the insurance carrier will raise a defense of sovereign immunity to preclude an action for damages under state or federal law”
It further states that the officer making an arrest shall immediately notify the sheriff’s office as to the type of arrest and name of the person arrested and transport that person to where the sheriff directs for booking.
It sounds to me like those who worked on this propopsal listened to all the objections that have been raised over the last few years. And that claims of non tribal members being hauled into tribal court have been addressed.
cathee on February 08 at 5:06 p.m.
I do believe that the supreme court already decided that tribal governments have no jurisdiction over non-indians. Here you all live on a checker board reservation with about a quarter of the people who are natives. Most of the land is owned by non-tribal people so then the reservation is only a border. I see that to let the tribal police arrest non-tribal people as a smoke screen and a money grapping source for the tribal groverment. They will, like other tribal governments with the same enforcment powers, run to the Senate on Indian Affairs stating they are having a big problem with the crime that comes from the non-natives that live on their reservation and then recieve money for law enforcement on the reservation. This will help to hid the crimes by their own people by using the non-native people as their big problem. My hope the people of Idaho will take time to futher look into this matter and give more money to the sheriff and state police to handle the non-native problems on this reservation.
firstbanks on February 09 at 9:16 a.m.
SPOKESMAN REVIEW IS WRONG AGAIN ! This Editorial was
published without any disclosure of the financial dependency
relationship of the newspaper with the Coeur d’Alene Tribe. The
contents are clearly biased and most likely intended to create
controversy and increase circulation of this newspaper. This
practice as well as that of printing new releases provided by the
Tribe without question or substantiation of the contents of those
news releases is a clear indication of the journalism ethics and
editorial policy of the Spokesman Review newspaper.
CDANative on February 09 at 11:35 a.m.
Here we all live on a checker board County.
Here we all live on a checker board State.
Here we all live in a checker board Country.
Most of the land in the County is not owned by the County.
Most of the land in the State is not owned by the State.
Most of the land in the United States is not owned by the United States.
Most of the land in Canada is not owned by Canada.
By Cathees reasoning, does any of it make sense anymore?
Equalitylaw on February 10 at 5:52 p.m.
Do these tribal officers swear an oath of office to uphold the Constitution of the United States including the Bill of Rights protecting all citizens from abuses of government and law enforcement officers?
Do these tribal officers swear and oath office to uphold the Constitution of the State of Idaho or Idaho state laws?
Besides being required to have P.O.S.T. certification do their qualifications, physical and mental fitness and backround checks, in order to be hired in the first place, meet the same screening requirements required by Benewah County Deputy Sheriffs who are hired by the County?
If they are hired or appointed by the tribe, do the non-Indian residents vote to elect the tribal government who hires them?
Are the non-Indian reservation residents entitled to vote for and participate in the tribal government election or in deciding tribal issues that could affect them and their property, law enforcement policies on the reservation and those involving their own safety and that of their property?
If a tribal officer engages in misconduct while enforcing the law against non-Indian persons, can the Benewah County Sheriff discipline them? Can the Sheriff of Benewah freely investigate such an incident?
Can the Benewah County Sheriff evaluate the fitness of tribal officers and terminate tribal officers who are unfit no matter who they are in the tribe, or who they may be related to in the tribe and it’s govenment? Can the Benewah County Sheriff at least remove any power such an unfit tribal officer may have under the “cross-deputization agreement”?
If it is up to the tribal government to discipline errant or unfit tribal officers, what say so or what input do the non-Indian residents of the reservation have, or what does the County of Benewah have to say about it?
Does the tribe pay taxes to support law enforcement and emergency infrastructure that is part of and very necessary to, the law enforcement network? [e.g. courts, jails, hospitals, District attorneys, Public Defenders, communication networks, Emergencty Medical Services and equipment, mutual aid agreements, the type and location of traffic signs, signals and markings, etc.]
Who determines if the waiver of tribal immuntiy is legally binding, enforceable and adequate to allow lawsuits and legal relief and legal rights to the non-Indian third parties who are affected, whether they live on or off the fee owned lands inside of the reservation?
Who determines if there is adequate liablility insurance and does the tribe consent to have such an insurance policy approved by Benewah County in advance and does the agreement require all notices from that insurance carrier to be provided to Benewah County? What does the County do if the policy lapses or is cancelled?
What Idaho state laws, Benewah County Ordinances or policies and procedures of the Benewah County Sheriffs Department apply to the conduct of these tribal oifficers in the course of the enforcement of their duties?
What ongoing inservice training and education, required by Benewah County for their deputies, must be taken or participated in by these “cross-deputized” tribal officers?
There are many complex questions involved in so called “cross-deputization agreements” with Indian tribal governments like the one proposed, very few of which are answered or even touched on, by this over-simplified and hollow editorial or in the many comments posted after it!
Marc_Stewart on February 11 at 12:00 p.m.
Here are answers to Equity Law’s questions. Most of the questions seem to focus on Benewah County’s authority over the tribe.
Under the proposed law, the Tribe would be enforcing state law, which is no different than any city police force operating in a county in Idaho.
Do these tribal officers swear an oath of office to uphold the Constitution of the United States including the Bill of Rights protecting all citizens from abuses of government and law enforcement officers? Yes. They do.
Do these tribal officers swear and oath office to uphold the Constitution of the State of Idaho or Idaho state laws? Yes (see above).
Besides being required to have P.O.S.T. certification do their qualifications, physical and mental fitness and backround checks, in order to be hired in the first place, meet the same screening requirements required by Benewah County Deputy Sheriffs who are hired by the County? The Tribe has hired many officers away from Kootenai and Benewah counties. Most of the tribal police officers are non-tribal members. I can’t compare the tribe’s hiring practices to Benewah County, but I can say that any time there is an opening — officers from across the state apply, including those from Benewah County.
If they are hired or appointed by the tribe, do the non-Indian residents vote to elect the tribal government who hires them?
This is a ridiculous question. Residents of St. Maries have no say in the city of Plummer’s police department, Non-tribal members cannot vote in tribal government elections. Say you live in St. Maries, Idaho, and you go to Spokane and get arrested, you can’t object to the state of Washington’s ability to prosecute you simply because you don’t live and vote in Washington.
Are the non-Indian reservation residents entitled to vote for and participate in the tribal government election or in deciding tribal issues that could affect them and their property, law enforcement policies on the reservation and those involving their own safety and that of their property? See previous question above.
If a tribal officer engages in misconduct while enforcing the law against non-Indian persons, can the Benewah County Sheriff discipline them? Can the Sheriff of Benewah freely investigate such an incident? Under the proposed law, a tribal officer who engages in misconduct would be subject to discipline from Idaho POST. Idaho POST council is comprised of elected officials around the state. If it is an alleged criminal act against a non-tribal member, the sheriff would be able to investigate and make an arrest.
— to be continued.
Marc_Stewart on February 11 at 12:02 p.m.
Can the Benewah County Sheriff evaluate the fitness of tribal officers and terminate tribal officers who are unfit no matter who they are in the tribe, or who they may be related to in the tribe and it’s government? Personnel decisions and evaluations are handled by the tribal police chief. Benewah County has no authority or ability to hire, fire or evaluate peace officers in St. Maries or Plummer.
Can the Benewah County Sheriff at least remove any power such an unfit tribal officer may have under the “cross-deputization agreement”? If the law is passed, the tribe and
Benewah County would have the ability to enter into a cross deputization agreement. The tribe and the county would have to agree on such a stipulation. If no agreement could be reached, Idaho Peace Officers and Standards Training would have the power to decertify tribal police officers. Benewah County would have no authority just like they have no authority over Idaho State Police.
If it is up to the tribal government to discipline errant or unfit tribal officers, what say so or what input do the non-Indian residents of the reservation have, or what does the County of Benewah have to say about it? Non-Indian residents are able to file complaints against tribal officers at any time now. Complaints are evaluated on the merits and the police chief acts accordingly. Benewah County is free voice its opinions, but in the end those are just opinions.
Does the tribe pay taxes to support law enforcement and emergency infrastructure that is part of and very necessary to, the law enforcement network? [e.g. courts, jails, hospitals, District attorneys, Public Defenders, communication networks, Emergencty Medical Services and equipment, mutual aid agreements, the type and location of traffic signs, signals and markings, etc.] Yes. The Tribe pays property taxes. It also has donated money to numerous public safety organizations on the reservation over the years.
Who determines if the waiver of tribal immuntiy is legally binding, enforceable and adequate to allow lawsuits and legal relief and legal rights to the non-Indian third parties who are affected, whether they live on or off the fee owned lands inside of the reservation? The tribe’s insurance provider.
Who determines if there is adequate liablility insurance and does the tribe consent to have such an insurance policy approved by Benewah County in advance and does the agreement require all notices from that insurance carrier to be provided to Benewah County? What does the County do if the policy lapses or is cancelled? The proposed bill outlines the amount of insurance required. Tribes would be required to have and maintain insurance. If they can’t, tribes couldn’t enforce state law. Benewah County would have no say in this process, just as it has no say in the city of St. Maries’ insurance coverage.
What Idaho state laws, Benewah County Ordinances or policies and procedures of the Benewah County Sheriffs Department apply to the conduct of these tribal oifficers in the course of the enforcement of their duties? Idaho POST sets the policies and procedures for all officers who enforce state law. Under the law, tribal officers would be required to be POST certified. In terms of power, Benewah County is not higher than the state of Idaho.
What ongoing inservice training and education, required by Benewah County for their deputies, must be taken or participated in by these “cross-deputized” tribal officers? I am not sure what Benewah County requires. The Tribe goes above and beyond what is required by the state already. Tribal officers are cross-deputized in Kootenai County. Idaho POST requirements are above Benewah County.
If Equity Law as any additional questions or needs further explanation, feel free to call me at 686-2023.
kosniper on February 11 at 6:18 p.m.
So once again. Tribal police were established by the tribe to enforce tribal code. State County and City Police were establish to enforce there own codes buy there state county and there city.
Leave the county state and city roads to the cops that are paid by the tax payers to patrol them. IE Hwy 95 and Hwy 5. Let tribal patrol there roads IE Lovell Valley, King Valley. Desmet.
And Finally “IF” the sheriff of that county wants to have help than he has the right to give them that power under special circumstances. Yeah not for everyday traffic stops. SO if he dosn’t want your help than to bad so sad. If you want the power to enforce non tribal code then try getting hired on to a real department…one that is recognized by the state…then maybe you to can be part of this sacred brotherhood.
And a word to the Chief of the Tribal Police… Try and get a real department to run.
CDAECE on March 03 at 9:43 a.m.
Is anybody outside of the county reading this?? Do you see what the tribe has to deal with?? Ignorant bigot people that are single minded and don’t want anything to do with the tribe…..Sorry to tell you folks we were here first!! And to stand behind a bigot sheriff just shows how ignorant you are?? For one the “Force” they have over at the county is probably about 5 officers that make 7.00 bucks an hour, they don’t have the cabability to handle anything that’s why benewah county is known for having alot of pot heads out on the benewah cause Kirts has no clue whats going on…….This county is a joke they just don’t want to give up power. I think we should just annex St. Maries off the reservation they don’t want anything to do with the tribe anyway….they did this for Harrison when they didn’t want anything to do with the tribe…..what did the tribe do in return??? Gave the Harrison school district money…..beats me??? It would be a different story if a “Indian” was not subject to State or Federal law and came and committed a crime towards a St. Maries resident and the Sheriff couldn’t do anything……its the same thing………!! Just think if a tribal officer stops a DUI suspect and has to set him free….he goes down the road and kills three people in a head on crash……What if they were YOUR family or friends??? Wouldn’t you want that kind of thing to be prevented??? Or lose a loved one simply because we have a big headed sheriff who doesn’t want help when in fact thats exactly what he needs………