Agreement between feds and state could keep more tribal officers close to home

First ever basic law course aimed at tribal law enforcement officers reaches midway point

Attorney General Marty Jackley and United States Attorney for the District of South Dakota Alison Ramsdell appear at a press conference in Pierre. (Austin Goss/The Dakota Scout)

PIERRE — An arrangement between state and federal officials could ultimately spare South Dakota’s tribal law enforcement officers from months of out-of-state training and get them back on patrol more quickly.

The Attorney General's Office is hoping that the 13-week basic law enforcement certification course oriented towards police officers working on and around the state’s nine Native American reservations can be the first part of a broader effort to keep more training in state. Required in some form before becoming a police officer anywhere, the basic class covers skills such as hand-to-hand combat, marksmanship, legal fundamentals and deescalation. Training officials with the AG’s office say that through three phases and over 520 hours, the course covers 51 different topics related to basic policing skills.

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Officers attending the basic certification course practice combatives. (Austin Goss/The Dakota Scout)

And though the AG’s office hosts three courses a year at the George S. Mickelson Criminal Justice Center in Pierre — classes are also offered in Sioux Falls through a partnership with the city — this additional course is the first ever aimed specifically at police officers on and around Indian Country.