A proposed bill that would expand the arrest authority of police officers for the Coeur d'Alene Tribe is stirring up controversy in the Idaho Legislature.

The bill would authorize cooperative law enforcement agreement between the tribe and counties. If the parties can't reach an agreement after six months of negotiations, the tribe's police officers would be allowed to arrest non-Indians for violations of state law.

The tribal officers would have to be certified by the state and the tribe would have to carry insurance. The tribe would also have to waive its sovereign immunity for lawsuits involving officers.

Despite the concessions, Benewah County Sheriff Bob Kirts doesn't want to work with the tribe. He ended a prior agreement because he claimed the tribe was trying to enforce tribal law against non-Indians.

Get the Story:
Benewah sheriff calls rights group’s letter ‘stupid’ (The Spokesman Review 2/4)

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Editorial: Back tribal arrest authority over non-Indians (2/3)