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Panel outlines jurisdiction gaps on Wind River Reservation; troopers seek BIA credentials to enforce tribal law
Summary
Wyoming Highway Patrol and federal partners told the committee overlapping jurisdiction on the Wind River Reservation complicates policing. Troopers who complete a BIA Special Law Enforcement Commission credential receive authority to enforce tribal law for enrolled members; delays in issuing the credentials and in tracking such incidents limit local enforcement capability.
Major Thomas, field operations bureau commander for the Wyoming Highway Patrol, told the Select Committee on Tribal Relations that overlapping jurisdiction — BIA, tribal police, county sheriffs and the state patrol — continues to present operational and communication challenges on the Wind River Reservation.
Thomas said troopers may attend the BIA Special Law Enforcement Commission (SLEC) training but several are still awaiting final credential cards that confer authority to enforce tribal law against enrolled members. "We have 11 troopers assigned to this area, and out of 11 we have 5 who have the certification and 6 that are still waiting for it," Thomas said. He described a slow credentialing process that has left some troopers unable to arrest enrolled members for reservation offenses and added that the Highway Patrol created a CAD disposition flag in October to track stops where troopers lacked authority; the new field logged about 20 such incidents since implementation.
Justin Kempf, the FBI supervisor for the region, explained the federal agency’s criteria for exercising jurisdiction on the reservation: a predicate federal criminal statute, occurrence within the reservation’s exterior boundaries, and a tribal member as victim or suspect. The FBI and other agencies described joint task forces (Safe Trails, DUI task force) and deputization arrangements that aim to improve coordination and evidence collection across jurisdictions.
Panelists and public commenters raised longstanding concerns about chronic underfunding of BIA police, cultural orientation for non‑tribal officers, and the slow issuance of SLEC credentials that affect day‑to‑day enforcement. Several tribal commenters urged greater federal funding to meet treaty obligations for policing and public safety.
What comes next: Law‑enforcement panelists said they would identify points of contact responsible for credential processing and welcomed congressional staff assistance to accelerate background checks and card issuance. The panel also suggested continued tracking of disposition codes and monthly stat review to document enforcement gaps.
