Grant will fund Tribal police for three years

Moving to accept a three-year, $672,525 federal Department of Justice grant on Oct. 12, the Grand Ronde Tribal Council has set the stage for a greater Tribal police presence in town.

The Tribal police force will consist of three officers supervised by Tribal member Peter Wakeland, the Tribe's Development Director.

Earlier this year, Tribal member and Forest Patrol Officer Jake McKnight graduated from the state's Department of Public Safety Standards and Training Academy in Salem to become the Tribe's first officer. McKnight's position is Tribally funded.

When the two new positions are filled, the four-member team will continue to work with the Polk County Sheriff's Office for coverage in the community.

"We are not going to build a jail," said Tribal Council member Toby McClary. "And we are not going to set up our own police communications system."

In July, the Oregon Legislature gave Tribal police the same powers given to other Oregon police. Senate Bill 412 required Tribal police be trained at the state's training academy, that Tribes provide police oversight, adhere to the state's open records law and adopt evidence protection standards, all requirements currently in use by federal, state and local police.

The federal grant also requires the Tribe to fund the two new police positions for a year after the grant expires.

"Over the next three years," said Wakeland, "Tribal Council will have discussions about what this police force will look like in the fourth year."

Before the passage of Senate Bill 412 in July, Tribal police either worked out details of the job with the local sheriff or had police powers limited to the reservation and to policing Native Americans on the reservation.

The bill also came with a five-year sunset provision. The last-minute compromise with bill opponents requires legislators to pass it again, and with that requirement comes a ready-made chance for legislators to amend or kill the law.

A Tribal police force is the latest step in the Tribe's continuing effort to reclaim its sovereignty. As early as 1985 in the Grand Ronde Tribal Reservation Plan, the Tribe called for a Tribal police force.

"This is an opportunity for the Tribe to play a more active role in local law enforcement and further develop relationships with local counties." said Wakeland.