BIA law enforcement officials pose in front of the "Batmobile" mobile DUI unit on Northern Cheyenne Reservation. Left to right: MeSeep, Special Agent in Charge, Billings Division; Jason Thompson, Assistant National Director; Bart Elliott, Northern Cheyenne Highway Safety Traffic Officer and Darren Cravzan, National Director.
National BIA Enforcement Team audits Northern Cheyenne police
By Clara Caufield
A Cheyenne Voice LAME DEER, Mont. — A law enforcement team came to Lame Deer to audit the police officers of the Northern Cheyenne. From April 7th – 18th top National B.I.A. Law Enforcement Director, Darren Cruzan; Jason Thompson, Assistant National Director, Doug NoSeep, Special Agent in Charge (Billings Area.) and 20 other B.I.A. officers were “on the ground” in Lame Deer, Mont. to conduct a compliance review, CAST (Corrective Action Support Team). Local law enforcement officials such as Donovan Wind, Northern Cheyenne Chief of Police welcomed the opportunity to identify and implement improvements to the local force. Other reservations to undergo such evaluation have included Spirit Lake, ND; Southern Pueblo, NM; Hopi, AZ. and Anadarko, OK. Northern Cheyenne is only the latest to undergo the new compliance review, but other direct-service B.I.A. law enforcement providers will follow. During an interview Director Cruzan said that it is too soon to identify “correctional” matters required at Northern Cheyenne. When the final report is submitted to the Tribal Government, such details will be provided at the discretion of Tribe. He also would not discuss the Hannah Harris murder case. Cruzan explained that Northern Cheyenne is the 5th Tribe in the nation to undergo such an evaluation and that other “direct-service” B.I.A. law enforcement programs are all slated to undergo such evaluations. This new technique was recently developed to assist local law enforcement agencies to improve and strengthen services. “In the past, a team of about three inspectors would show up at the B.I.A. service delivery unit in the Nation,” he explained. “They would identify areas that needed approval, leave a written recommendation and then continue on. Because of the pressing demands of every-day law enforcement, those areas were not likely to be improved.” Northern Cheyenne Tribal President, Llevando “Cowboy” Fisher welcomed the CAST review saying “I’m glad they are doing a review to upgrade the local Police Department. I have also requested a review of our Tribal Courts, where there is also room for improvement. We, the Tribal Government have received many complaints about our Court System which is why I requested such a tribal court review.” Cruzan, former Chief of Police at Crow Agency pointed out that the top leadership in B.I.A. law enforcement has ‘come up through the ranks’ and are thus familiar with the challenges faced by Reservation cops. “I have always said that on Reservations, we have offenders doing life sentences – two weeks at a time. Recidivism due to drugs and alcohol is a major cause which must be addressed.” Cruzan is a strong advocate of community policing. When questioned about drug-related crimes on the Reservation, he said “Just because you don’t see something happening does not mean we are not working on the problem. Building a prosecution case takes time.” “We are only part of the solution,” Director Cruzan stressed. “To be effective, law enforcement must work with other groups such as the elders, the Tribal Council, social service providers etc. Simply arresting people is not the solution.” He went on to discuss the need for improved tribal traffic codes (i.e. Hwy 212 where he recently rode with Bart Elliott, Highway Safety Officer to get a first-hand view of the problems); the need for an improved law and order code, cooperation with other law enforcement jurisdictions and the “will” of the Tribal leaders to invoke change. “We all need to leave a bigger foot-print in the community,” he encouraged. While Cruzan will return to D.C. next week, his deputies will remain at Northern Cheyenne for some time, helping B.I.A. implement recommended improvements and have an “increased” presence on the Reservation. Tribal members should watch out for the Batmobile and increased check points during this time. (Clara Caufield may be reached at acheyennevoice.com) Copyright permission Native Sun News
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