The Coeur d'Alene Tribe reached a law enforcement agreement in principle with Benewah County, Idaho.

The deal will allow tribal officers to enforce state law and county officers to enforce tribal law. Tribal officers won't be able to cite non-Indians in tribal court but non-Indians who are arrested for violations on the tribal portion of Lake Coeur d'Alene could choose to go to tribal court.

The deal was reached as the tribe was pushing a bill that would force the county into negotiating a cross-deputization agreement. If the county failed to come to agreement, the bill would have allowed the tribe to go ahead and enforce state law against non-Indians.

County officials vigorously opposed the bill and defended their refusal to deal with the tribe. But state lawmakers told the parties to negotiate after the issue generated controversy in the state Capitol.

Get the Story:
Benewah, tribe solve stalemate (The Spokesman Review 3/18)
Eye on Boise: The cross-deputization agreement… (The Spokesman Review 3/17)
Coeur d'Alene police can arrest non-tribal members (AP 3/17)
County, tribe reach agreement on police enforcement (The Idaho Reporter 3/17)

Relevant Documents:
DOC: State and Indian Tribal Law Enforcement Act

Related Stories:
Counties opposing Coeur d'Alene law enforcement bill (3/5)
Coeur d'Alene Tribe at odds with county over police (02/11)
Coeur d'Alene Tribe law enforcement bill introduced (2/10)
Editorial: Sheriff wrong about Coeur d'Alene policing (2/8)
Coeur d'Alene law enforcement bill stirs controversy (02/05)
Editorial: Back tribal arrest authority over non-Indians (2/3)