Nine tribal recruits to join next South Dakota law enforcement academy class
Nine recruits from the Yankton, Oglala, Sisseton-Wahpeton and Rosebud tribes will join South Dakota’s next basic law enforcement certification class, beginning Aug. 18 in Pierre, according to South Dakota Searchlight. The 13-week program certifies officers for tribal and non-tribal agencies, with three sessions held each year.
Since May 2024, the state has certified 13 tribal graduates. Officials hope to expand training opportunities for tribal officers. U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds and state Public Safety Secretary Bob Perry have called for a federal tribal police academy in the Great Plains. Most tribal officers currently train at a Bureau of Indian Affairs facility in Artesia, New Mexico, which leaders say poses hiring challenges due to distance and duration.
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