Central South Dakota News

U.S. Senator Mike Rounds from South Dakota has taken action to address the tribal law enforcement crisis in the Great Plains Region. In a letter to the Assistant Secretary of the Department of the Interior, Rounds expressed concerns about the challenges faced by tribal law enforcement officers in receiving adequate training.

Rounds highlighted the current situation where tribal law enforcement officers in the region are required to travel to a facility in New Mexico for training, causing recruitment difficulties and leading potential officers to seek employment elsewhere. He emphasized the impact of this issue on law enforcement in the Great Plains Region, home to some of the largest tribes in the nation.

In his letter, Senator Rounds stated, "With no basic federal training options for tribal law enforcement on the Great Plains, prospective officers are opting to work for local agencies or leave the law enforcement field altogether." He also pointed out the consequences of the lack of personnel in tribal communities, such as understaffed agencies patrolling vast areas and an increase in illegal drug distribution.

Rounds proposed the possibility of opening a tribal law enforcement training facility in the Great Plains Region to address the recruitment and training challenges. He mentioned the existence of suitable training facilities that could mitigate the issue without significant costs and garner support from tribal leaders to enhance law enforcement capacity in the region.

Senator Rounds concluded his letter by respectfully requesting a meeting with the Assistant Secretary to discuss the urgent need for a tribal law enforcement training center in South Dakota. He urged cooperation to find solutions that would support tribal law enforcement agencies and address the rising crime rates affecting tribal lands.

The initiative taken by Senator Rounds reflects a proactive approach to addressing the pressing issues faced by tribal law enforcement in the Great Plains Region, aiming to improve training opportunities and enhance the capacity of law enforcement agencies to combat crime effectively.