Officers, staff and management for the tribe's public safety department. Photo from LRBOI

The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians in Michigan has suspended the upper management of its public safety division.

Manistee County Sheriff Dale Kowalkowski said he received a call from Larry Romanelli, the tribe's leader, last Friday. He wasn't told the reasons for the suspensions but he has pulled a cross-deputization agreement for tribal officers in the meantime.

"I just revoked the authority until he sorts this out. I just didn't have the trust," Kowalkowski told MLive. Tribal officers won't be able to police non-Indians as a result.

The public safety department includes 12 officers. The unit is overseen by a director, lieutenant and detective sergeant, according to the tribe's website.

The tribe plans to issue a statement later today on the issue, MLive reported.

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Policing authority for Little River Band of Ottawa Indians suspended (MLive 11/5)