The special agent in charge of supplemental law enforcement efforts on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation says the Oglala Sioux Tribe is capable of running its own police department, with assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

"Yes, they can, and we're working with them to provide assistance to make this an adequately run program," said John Long, assistant special agent for the Bureau of Indian Affairs's Office of Law Enforcement Services. "That's our responsibility as the BIA."

Long commands the 25 supplemental BIA officers sent to the Pine Ridge reservation last week to meet law enforcement needs there after nearly 30 tribal police officers either resigned or were relieved of duty after conflicts over personnel issues within the department.

Some of the public safety officers placed on administrative leave without pay appeared in court Thursday to ask special tribal court Judge Rochelle Ducheneaux to change their status to administrative leave with pay. Ducheneaux told the petitioners they were missing necessary documents and evidence and postponed the hearing until Thursday, Aug. 28, a tribal court spokeswoman said.

Meanwhile, a criminal investigation continues into a fight involving some police officers and tribal council members during an Aug. 12 meeting. Police department employees had requested the meeting with the Department of Public Safety Board of Trustees, which consists of the executive board of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, to present a list of their job concerns. That list included a request for the removal of Chief of Police Joe Herman and Capt. Milton Bianas.

Long declined to comment on details of the investigation into the incident at the SuAnne Big Crow Boys and Girls Club.

U.S. Attorney Marty Jackley said his office has not yet received the results of that investigation.

Long and other agents from throughout the country arrived Aug. 12 and tentatively plan to stay 30 days. Long works in the BIA's Aberdeen office but is an Oglala Sioux tribal member from Pine Ridge. He said the length of their stay could be extended if necessary to provide law enforcement on the reservation.

"My function is to provide law enforcement in the absence of the police officers who walked out," Long said. The 25 temporary BIA agents bring the total number of police on the reservation to 52. The police department had 56 officers before the controversy developed.

Herman remains in charge of the OST officers. "We're working jointly, meeting to ensure that there's adequate coverage out in the districts," Long said. "That's the extent of our relationship." Tribal officers are working 8-hour days, and BIA officers work 10-hour days.

Long would not comment about whether Herman has the full confidence of his department.

"That's not for me to say," he said.

Response to the BIA officers' presence has been "great," and people are feeling safer in their communities, Long said.

"There's adequate coverage to provide services to all nine districts right now," he said.

Phyllis Wilcox of Wanblee disagrees. Wilcox said Wednesday that alcohol bootlegging, vandalism and methamphetamine use remain rampant on the reservation.