Officers, staff and management for the tribe's public safety department. Photo from LRBOI

The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians in Michigan said it has launched an investigation into its public safety department.

Three people have been suspended, according to news reports. The local sheriff said it was upper management but a tribal spokesperson didn't offer many details.

“The suspension is because we are doing an investigation into three officers, some issues, but we can’t really talk about it because we have to respect, not just their privacy, but the sanctity of the investigation,” spokesperson Glenn Zaring told Up North Live.

Zaring wouldn't speculate how long the investigation would take. But he said a "very experienced detective" is in charge of the probe.

Manistee County Sheriff Dale Kowalkowski said he was informed about the probe last week. He has suspended a cross-deputization agreement with the tribe until he hears back.

“Until I get some facts, we determined here in this office that it was best to put everybody on pause and wait until the investigation that the tribal government is conducting internally within their police department is completed,” Kowalkowski told Up North Live. Tribal officers won't be able to police non-Indians as a result.

The public safety department includes 12 officers. The unit is overseen by a director, lieutenant and detective sergeant, according to the tribe's website

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Tribal Police agreement suspended (Up North Live 11/5)

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Little River Band suspends management from public safety unit (11/5)