Who We Are
Tribal Police History
Since establishment in 1997, the Coeur d’Alene Tribal Police have worked hard to maximize their efforts by collaborating with other law enforcement agencies and cross-deputizing Tribal Police officers to provide services to approximately 15,000 Native and Non-Native residences on the reservation. Cross-deputization agreements with the two counties require constant police presence and the 10-member force is fully employed in doing so. While this collaboration and resource sharing has contributed to better policing services on the reservation, the Coeur d’ Alene Tribal Police still battle the impacts of alcohol and drug abuse, juvenile delinquency, and domestic violence on a regular basis. Most arrests in 2021 were related to alcohol and/or drug abuse, or sale and distribution of drugs.
The Chief of Police has actively worked with a group of elected leaders, department directors and managers, as well as non-Tribal institutions such as city, county, and law enforcement agencies, to reduce substance abuse related crime on the reservation. Specifically, the Chief of Police has been a participant on the Tribal Collaboration Committee (TCC), which has been comprehensively assessing community justice needs since 2014, acknowledges the epidemic of drug use/sale, victimization, and juvenile delinquency. This can be said for many communities across the U.S. and especially in rural areas. The Tribal Police, along with their partners, continue to work to ensure public safety and wellness on the Coeur d’Alene Indian Reservation.
The Police Chief’s Message
Welcome to our website. I am proud to lead the men and women of the Coeur d’Alene Tribal Police Department. Every day our efforts require an environment of trust for our fellow officers, and the trust of the community we serve. This website represents an effort to report back to the community. These pages highlight our mission and goals, and provide valuable preventative resources for health, wellness, and services. We’ve worked closely with the Tribe’s Strategic Initiatives & Development Office in taking the first steps in reporting data and statistics relevant to our community. We hope to build upon these first steps, and grow our ability to share these insights.
— Sam
Tribal Police General Jurisdiction
The Coeur d’Alene Reservation is a large, rural area in northern Idaho with 5 towns (Worley, Plummer, St. Marie’s, Tensed, and Desmet), covering over 539 square miles and approximately 53 miles from the northern boundary of the reservation along State Highway 95 to the southern boundary. The reservation exists within two counties – Kootenai County on the northern third of the reservation, and Benewah County for the rest. These two counties are vastly rural in nature and law enforcement resources are limited.
