ROSEBUD CASINO – A meeting to discuss local law enforcement efforts on the Rosebud Reservation was held here last week. In addition, an overview was provided on the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) High Priority Performance Goal (HPPG) Initiative.
The HPPG Initiative was first implemented in Indian Country during 2009 on the Wind River Arapaho (Wyoming), Standing Rock Sioux (North/South Dakota), Rocky Boy Chippewa/Cree (Montana) and Mescalero Apache (New Mexico) Indian Reservations. These areas were provided with additional resources in the form of increased base federal funding to assist with efforts in reducing violent crime by at least 5%. Over a period of 24 months, criminal incidents on these four reservations combined were reduced overall by 35%.
On the Rosebud Reservation, 100% of children who reside here are exposed to violence, either directly or indirectly. On average, there are two women assaulted along with at least one child directly exposed to violence every day on Rosebud. These numbers are taken directly from the agencies who serving the victims of violent crimes.
The current phase of the HPPG Initiative involves a continuation of efforts to reduce violent crime in other parts of Indian Country. The two areas which will be focused on are the Rosebud Sioux and San Carlos Apache Reservations.
“We believe we can have the same result in these two areas,” stated Darren Cruzan, who serves as the Director of the BIA Office of Justice Services. “The BIA is not coming in to tell the tribes what to do. We prefer to come alongside the tribes as a partner to help the program succeed.”
Tribal officials from both the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and the San Carlos Apache Tribe attended the one day summit. RST officials from tribal government, law enforcement, detention, tribal court, social services as well as several BIA officials also attended.
Rosebud and San Carlos were both selected for the HPPG Initiative “because of the commitment of their tribal leadership,” stated Cruzan. Rosebud Sioux Tribal President Rodney Bordeaux and Chief of Police Grace Her Many Horses, along with San Carlos Tribal President Terry Rambler and Chief of Police Alejandro Benally all attended the meeting.
“We have to have a buy in by tribal leadership in order for the HPPG Initiative to be successful,” Cruzan said.
Rosebud’s Law Enforcement Service staff recently collected 1300 surveys under the HPPG Initiative in order to assess their efforts according to the tribal and community members’ perspective. The Rosebud Police Department currently has 20 officers. There will soon be 10 detailed officers from other tribal law enforcement departments coming to assist at Rosebud.
© 2012 Vi Waln
Sicangu News 