With its extremely high homicide rate, the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation is being called the murder capital of Colorado.
Last year, five and possibly six people were murdered. With only about 2,000 people on the reservation, that puts the murder rate far above the national and state average.
U.S. Attorney Troy Eid says the rate data shows 250 or 300 killings per 100,000 people, compared to 4 per 100,000 for the state. "It is a national and state disgrace," he tells The Denver Post.
Tribal leaders acknowledge problems with drugs, alcohol and domestic violence. But former chairman Selwyn Whiteskunk says Eid has exaggerated the situation.
"We're not as bad as the U.S. attorney put out," he tells the paper.
Eid and Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Colorado) say the reservation needs more resources to combat crime. Only six police officers patrol the 550,000-acre reservation.
Get the Story:
Ute murder rate "a disgrace"
(The Denver Post 2/12)
Relevant Links:
Ute Mountain Ute Tribe -
http://www.utemountainute.com
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