Tribal Policing Framework for Success

A Startup Department Why should we do it (doing it for the right reasons)? Why should we do it (doing it for the right reasons)? Conducting a Needs Assessment Conducting a Needs Assessment Deciding whether to move forward Deciding whether to move forward Getting into the details Getting into the details

Doing it for the Right Reasons Support Support –High level of tribal community support, not just that of elected officials –Impetus of project can not be from just influential tribal members Tribal government/community accountability Tribal government/community accountability

Doing it for the Right Reasons (continued) More police presence in community More police presence in community Quicker response times Quicker response times Tribal government/community desires more personalized services Tribal government/community desires more personalized services –School programs (DARE/GREAT) –Community Oriented Policing Projects –Going beyond just being culturally sensitive

Doing it for the Right Reasons (continued) Integrates well into other tribal programs, e.g.. Integrates well into other tribal programs, e.g.. –Tribal courts –Traditional dispute or problem resolution

Conducting a Needs Assessment Needs assessment can be simply defined as a process that allows tribal government and community members to make an informed decision Needs assessment can be simply defined as a process that allows tribal government and community members to make an informed decision Those involved in the process should be tribal government officials, community members and a law enforcement advisor Those involved in the process should be tribal government officials, community members and a law enforcement advisor

Conducting a Needs Assessment (continued) Keep the process simple by breaking it down into general steps: Keep the process simple by breaking it down into general steps: –Information gathering (calls for service, crime trends, community’s perspective) –Analyzing the information –Applying to decisions which address the community’s needs versus the means to address those needs

Means to Address Needs Running a tribal police department is not inexpensive Running a tribal police department is not inexpensive –Might be able to receive grant funding for startup costs or special projects, but should not be factored in your decision to sustain the operation of your department Most expensive part of budget is labor costs Most expensive part of budget is labor costs

Needs Assessment (continued) Must be ready to pay competitively for the geographical area Must be ready to pay competitively for the geographical area –Includes health, life, and disability insurance; paid time off; retirement Don’t forget pre-hire costs Don’t forget pre-hire costs –testing; background investigations; psychological and medical examinations

Needs Assessment (conclusion) In order to move forward In order to move forward –Must have tribal government and overall community support for desired police services –Must be able to afford the overall costs for the long haul

Moving Forward At this point the tribe should be able to define the scope of services it can afford At this point the tribe should be able to define the scope of services it can afford –24 hours a day, 7 days a week? –Limited service department Basic patrol duties Basic patrol duties Investigations; tribal codes Investigations; tribal codes Crime prevention/Education Crime prevention/Education

Moving Forward (continued) Selecting a chief Selecting a chief –Tribal government/community should set the type of qualifications before initiating a search Type of experience, training, and education Type of experience, training, and education –Match experience with community’s needs –Background investigation Insulated from day-to-day politics Insulated from day-to-day politics

Getting into the Details Chief’s first steps Chief’s first steps –A plan for implementation including budget Equipment and vehicle fleet procurement Equipment and vehicle fleet procurement Facility Facility Recruitment Recruitment –5 year plan along with budget forecasting, ideal Working closely with community Working closely with community

Develop relationships with other agencies/departments Intra-agency cooperation Intra-agency cooperation –Fire/EMS –Tribal courts/attorney –Schools –Public works

Develop relationships with other agencies/departments Interagency cooperation Interagency cooperation –Sheriff’s Department/local PD –BIA –FBI/DEA –DA/USA’s office

Mission Statement More that just a slogan More that just a slogan Department's identity Department's identity Should reflect the department’s Should reflect the department’s –Philosophy –Values –Commitment to the community

Mission Statement (continued) Can address the department’s Can address the department’s –responsibilities to the community –roles in the justice system as a whole Tribal Tribal State State Federal Federal –roles in the community

Polices and Procedures Critical policies and procedures must be developed: Critical policies and procedures must be developed: –Code of ethics; professional conduct; use of force; pursuits; arrest; citizen complaints; internal/administrative investigations Any procedure that would mitigate a high risk to liability Any procedure that would mitigate a high risk to liability

Standards and Training Minimum hiring standards should have parity with other jurisdictions: Minimum hiring standards should have parity with other jurisdictions: –POST –BIA Testing, interviews, background investigation, psychological, medical Testing, interviews, background investigation, psychological, medical

Standards and Training (continued) Field (Phase) Training Program Field (Phase) Training Program –Emphasis on cultural and social norms of community –New officers meeting community members and attending community events

Standards and Training (continued) In-service and specialized training In-service and specialized training –Regular updated training to mitigate risk of liability –Training specific to officer’s scope of duties

Other Details that Need to be Considered Dispatch/Communications Dispatch/Communications –Capital outlay for equipment and labor is costly (grant opportunities) Form a consortium with other tribal jurisdictions in the same area Form a consortium with other tribal jurisdictions in the same area Contract with county or local municipality Contract with county or local municipality Records management system Records management system

Finally Keep your community informed! Keep your community informed! –Community meetings –Website –Community paper or newsletter

Bill Denke Chief, Sycuan Tribal Police Department Work: Cell: