NCJ Number
148004
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 42 Issue: 3 Dated: (March 1994) Pages: 70-73
Date Published
1994
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article describes how the new police chief of the Pyramid Lake (Nevada) Tribal Police Department when he took over after several chief executives had left, all administrative records were missing, and the community-police relations were generally poor.
Abstract
In order to address budget shortfalls, the chief enlisted assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and is trying now to obtain government surplus vehicles to supplement his own fleet. Many of the tribal police officers were placed in outside training programs, often without charge. A reserve officer has been appointed to develop record-keeping and report-writing computer programs and to coach regular officers in patrol procedures. Community relations are improving as officers begin to spend more relaxed time with reservation residents. The tribal police enforce misdemeanors, while most felonies are prosecuted under Federal statutes. The FBI is responsible for prosecuting serious felonies. County and State law enforcement officers retain their police powers on the reservation, but only over non-Indians.