Police urged to address California MMIP crisis through training and coordination

Native and Indigenous organizers are urging California law enforcement agencies to better address the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people by using available tools and building trust with Native communities, according to Bay City News. The call follows a Native- and Indigenous-led training conference held in Monterey in November that focused on coordination, trauma-informed practices and awareness of existing resources.

According to Bay City News, speakers and organizers said law enforcement participation was limited despite statewide need. Tara Grey of the Bakersfield American Indian Health Project and members of the Supporting Indigenous Communities Group highlighted tools such as the Feather Alert system and state and federal databases to improve responses to missing persons cases. Sand City Mayor Mary Ann Carbone, who helped organize the conference, said the effort aimed to connect law enforcement and communities while addressing gaps in awareness and coordination. Organizers said they plan to continue similar trainings to expand engagement and improve outcomes for Indigenous people impacted by violence.