A bill encouraging the Bureau of Indian Affairs to establish law enforcement training in South Dakota advances through the Senate State Affairs committee.
Currently, BIA officers travel to New Mexico for training. The proposed resolution asks the BIA for that training to happen here.
Republican Representative Rocky Blare introduced the resolution. He said BIA officer’s cross-training with state counterparts is beneficial.
“This should help address the issues that we have on our reservations as far as young men and women who want to get involved with helping elevate the problems we may have here in the rest of the state as well as on our reservations, working together cooperatively,” said Blare.
Ross Garelick-Bell is a registered advocate for the Yankton Sioux and Rosebud Sioux Tribes. He said the tribes are in support of the bill.
“The belief is, if you have a local area that they can train in, not only could they go to their training but on the weekends, they could go back to the communities that they plan to serve in. And still keep that identity that they want to work in,” said Garelick-Bell.
The committee voted to support the bill unanimously. It now heads to the Senate floor.
