Come August, the Meskwaki Tribe of Iowa will have its first police force.

The tribe already hired Roger Sanders, a retired lieutenant from the Des Moines police department, as its first police chief. He will be joined by five officers who are graduating from the police academy next month, said Chairman Homer Bear.

The reservation in Tama was previously served by the county sheriff's department. The county's officers often responded during the tribe's leadership dispute that led to the closure of the casino.

The tribe met with local, state and federal officials yesterday to discuss jurisdictional issues.

Get the Story:
Meskwaki, agencies talk about police job division (The Des Moines Register 6/9)
Meskwaki officials set to start own law enforcement (The Marshalltown Times-Republican 6/9)
Meskwaki Tribe unveils new police force (AP 6/8)

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Meskwaki Tribe swears in chief for new police force (03/23)