BIA to assist, advise Oglala Sioux police

| Friday, October 03, 2003

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PINE RIDGE — As of Oct. 1, the Bureau of Indian Affairs will supervise and provide technical assistance to the Oglala Sioux Tribe's Department of Public Safety, under a memorandum of agreement, or MOA, approved by tribal leaders.

James Two Bulls has been named the BIA acting chief of police, and Duane Yellowhawk will serve as BIA Indian self-determination specialist for financial programs.

The MOA was approved by tribal resolution and signed by Oglala Sioux Tribe President John Steele and Robert Ecoffey, deputy bureau director of the BIA Office of Law Enforcement Services.

According to a news release from the BIA, this is the first formal agreement entered into between a tribe and the BIA that allows the federal government complete program oversight authority and supervision of tribal employees.

The agreement also gives the BIA final administrative authority on approval and expenditure of program contract funds.

The agreement came about after months of negotiation to make sure the arrangement would benefit the tribe and ensure contract compliance, as well as support tribal sovereignty. New internal financial and administrative controls for the department are being developed, along with "corrective action plans" to address issues including alcohol, drugs and gangs.

Starting Monday, Oct. 6, the Indian Police Academy will be providing in-service training for all department employees on the chain of command, ethics and Law Enforcement Handbook.