Native Issues
Police shortage crisis
Apr 7, 2025

Spirit Lake Tribe reaches agreement with BIA

The Spirit Lake Tribe's police force is operating with just four officers and sometimes responds to 200 calls in a week. The tribe’s chairperson, Lonna Jackson-Street, describes the need for more officers as urgent. To address the officer shortage, the tribe has established a Memorandum of Agreement with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, allowing for direct recruitment of officers under tribal authority while ensuring the recruits meet BIA Police Academy credentials.

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