SOUTH DAKOTA — Tribal leaders are calling on Congress and federal agencies to increase public safety funding as reservations across the country continue to face critical shortages of law enforcement officers.
Officials say the Bureau of Indian Affairs estimates about $3.5 billion is needed to address public safety challenges in Indian Country. Many departments are struggling to respond to violent crimes, domestic violence, drug cases, missing persons reports, and other emergencies due to limited staffing and resources.
On the Pine Ridge Reservation, the Oglala Sioux Tribe has just 27 officers serving a population of more than 50,000 people, far below national staffing averages.
Tribal leaders say the shortage has real consequences for community safety, particularly for Native women. They point to the case of 21-year-old Tynee White, who called 911 multiple times before her disappearance. She was later found dead after only one officer was available to cover the area that day.
Tribal governments are now urging federal officials to fully fund public safety programs and expand tribal self-governance efforts, saying stronger support is needed to protect their communities.
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