Honoring Tribal Law Enforcement During National Police Week

This National Police Week 2025, we stand in unwavering respect and gratitude for the brave tribal law enforcement officers who defend Native communities and uphold sovereignty across Indian Country.

While their service often goes unrecognized, tribal police officers perform the same dangerous, thankless duties as any local, state, or federal law enforcement professional—only with fewer resources and in some of the most remote and underserved regions of the United States.

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, there are 258 tribal police departments in the U.S., including 234 tribally operated agencies, 23 Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) police departments, and the Village Public Safety Officer (VPSO) program in Alaska. Each of these departments serves as a frontline defense for Native families, culture, and land.

From Shiprock to Sacaton, from Lemoore to Lapwai, Native officers protect over 574 federally recognized tribes. They respond to domestic violence calls, enforce traffic laws, serve warrants, investigate major crimes, and lead search and rescue operations. In doing so, they keep tribal communities safe, sovereign, and standing.

The Role of Tribal Law Enforcement in Indian Country

Native police officers are often the first responders to emergencies in vast territories spanning multiple jurisdictions. These officers manage high-stakes criminal investigations, community policing, and interagency coordination—often while balancing cultural responsibilities and budget constraints.

We must never forget that law enforcement in Indian Country is more than a job—it’s a mission of cultural preservation and community protection.

Honoring the Fallen: A Sacred Commitment

During this year’s Indian Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Ceremony, we honored eight fallen officers who gave their lives in service to Native communities:

• Anthony Francone, Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribal Police Department
• Brian Herbert, Osage Nation Police Department
• Joshua Briese, Gila River Police Department
• Jesse Branch, Red Lake Nation Police Department
  …and others whose legacies remind us of the heavy cost of duty in Indian Country.

We will never forget their sacrifice.

Recognizing Excellence: Awards and Initiatives

On April 28, the Administrative Response Team (ART) received the Department of the Interior’s Distinguished Service Award for their leadership in officer-involved shooting and in-custody death investigations across Indian Country. Their work brings justice, closure, and healing.

Special recognition also goes to Special Agent Jacob Glossop, honored by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Mexico for his work investigating major crimes in tribal communities—proof that excellence in tribal policing continues to inspire.

Shaping the Future: The Youth Indian Police Academy

Our future is bright thanks to programs like the Youth Indian Police Academy, hosted by BIA and BIE this June in Anadarko, OK. High school students will undergo tactical simulations, team-building exercises, and law enforcement training—all expenses paid. This program builds the next generation of Native law enforcement leaders, rooted in service and sovereignty. BIA-BIE Youth Indian Police Academy | Indian Affairs

Supporting Safe Tribal Communities

Native law enforcement ensures public safety in tribal communities, enforces tribal and federal law, and strengthens the rule of law in sovereign nations. Their leadership promotes safe neighborhoods, fosters economic development, and builds trust between citizens and their governments.

Now more than ever, we must:

• Fund and staff tribal police departments adequately
• Promote cultural and community-based policing models
• Support recruitment and training efforts in Native youth
• Protect tribal law enforcement jurisdiction and sovereignty

We back the blue in Indian Country—not out of politics, but out of principle. Because tribal police protect our people, our lands, and our way of life.