PIERRE, S.D. – On April 11, Governor Kristi Noem and Attorney General Marty Jackley offered South Dakota’s nine Native American tribes a historic opportunity to train tribal law enforcement officers.

“People in tribal communities continue to suffer because of the well-documented shortage of tribal law enforcement officers. This hurts all of South Dakota’s nine reservations, so we are taking the lead on training more officers as quickly as possible,” Governor Noem and Attorney General Jackley wrote. “South Dakota is proud to announce a tribal law enforcement-specific basic certification course this summer – right here in our state.”

Currently, potential tribal law enforcement officers must spend 13 weeks receiving their law enforcement training in New Mexico, keeping them away from their families for that entire time. Conducting this first-of-its-kind training in South Dakota will allow tribal law enforcement to return home to their families on the weekends, which will boost retention and lead to the graduation of more certified officers.

 “We look forward to working with you to accomplish this history-making opportunity and providing desperately needed law enforcement for South Dakota communities.,” concluded Governor Noem and Attorney General Jackley.

Governor Noem has previously called attention to the challenges that tribal law enforcement faces due to underfunding from the Biden Administration. In February, she urged the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs to enhance public safety on tribal reservations. And in March, she called for a comprehensive, public, and transparent audit of all federal funds to South Dakota’s nine Native American tribes to help understand the funding level that is necessary to keep these communities safe.