An historic endeavor for South Dakota as the Attorney General’s office hosts its inaugural Tribal Law Enforcement training session.
The Flandreau Santee Sioux are not yet involved; however the initiative marks a significant step toward what the state hopes will be more cooperative and enhanced law enforcement capabilities across the state.
Attorney General Marty Jackley recently announced that 13 tribal law enforcement officers, alongside 11 local and state officers, will participate in the new training program scheduled to commence on June 3 in Pierre.

Historically, a significant portion of Tribal law enforcement would travel to New Mexico for training. However, this 13-week course at the George S. Mickelson Criminal Justice Center will mean that officers can return home on weekends.
“Training tribal officers alongside state and local officers serving near our reservations strengthens relationships, increases consistency, and makes sense for South Dakota,” Jackley said.
Tribal officers participating in the inaugural class are Cheyenne River Sioux, Oglala Sioux, and Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Sioux. The remainder of the class will consist of officers from non-tribal law enforcement agencies.
A comprehensive curriculum will include a better understanding of the law, arrest control tactics, firearms proficiency, vehicle handling, and criminal investigations and it will be led by full-time staff from the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and adjunct instructors from across the state.
Acknowledging the collaborative nature of the initiative, Attorney General Jackley extended thanks to U.S. Attorney Alison Ramsdell and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) for their contributions. Graduation is scheduled for September 3 in Pierre.