Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate to break ground on new law enforcement center

The Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate will hold a groundbreaking Aug. 27 for a new 28,000-square-foot law enforcement center on the Lake Traverse Reservation, according to Yahoo News. The facility will sit next to a 25-bed detention center nearing completion, creating a centralized hub for justice services across the tribe’s territory in northeastern South Dakota and southeastern North Dakota.

The center, designed by EAPC Architects Engineers of Sioux Falls, will feature modern technology and secure operational spaces. In a statement, Chairman J. Garret Renville said the project “marks a pivotal step in the tribe’s commitment to public safety” and will foster partnerships with state and federal agencies. Chief of Police Gary Gaikowski said the facility is “something our tribe can take immense pride in, not just for our law enforcement department but for all the future employees who will serve here for generations to come.”