Despite promises from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe is down to just 13 police officers.

As part of Operation Dakota Peacekeeper, the BIA increased its law enforcement presence last year to combat high rates of crime. At one point, there were 37 officers on duty on the reservation.

But Sen. John Thune (R-South Dakota) said the number of officers is back down to the "pre-surge" level of 13. That's only about half of what the BIA promised.

"Operation Dakota Peacekeeper was a success, but by reducing the police force to the pre-surge level, the BIA is jeopardizing all of the progress that was made last year," Thune said in a press release. "The difference in public safety before and after the policing surge was unmistakable, but with the reduced number of law enforcement officers, crime is again on the rise. The BIA must act quickly to restore law enforcement levels to at least the 25-officer level that was originally promised before all of last year's gains are lost."

The lack of officers across Indian Country was raised at a Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing yesterday.

Get the Story:
Officer Shortage (KOTA Radio 6/25)

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