Navajo Tribal Police
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Navajo Tribal Police is the law enforcement agency on the Navajo Nation in the Southwestern United States. It is under the Navajo Department of Public Safety. It is headed by a Chief of Police, six Police Captains and one Police Lieutenant. It includes: Internal Affairs, Criminal Investigation, Patrol, Fiscal management, Recruitment, and Training Divisions. The Navajo tribal police are responsible for seven districts, Chinle, Crownpoint, Dilkon, Kayenta, Shiprock, Tuba City, and Window Rock. Currently there are 319 Police Officers, a number of Criminal Investigators and there are 279 civilians, acting as support staff for the department . There is an approximate 1.9 police officers per 1000 people. The Navajo Tribal Police are funded by federal contracts and grants and general Navajo Nation funds.
[edit] History
The Treaty of 1868 that released the Navajos from their captivity at Fort Sumner established law enforcement as the responsibility of the Federal Government and was administered by the Branch of Law and Order. The first Navajo Police were created in 1872. They were dissolved three years later despite their successes. Although there were police on the reservation, they were funded and supported by the United States Government. The Navajo Tribal Police Department wasn't reestablished until 1959 per request of the Navajo Tribal Council. Not only were they responsible for Law Enforcement but they were also responsible for the care and custody of prisoners.
[edit] Fictional References
Officers of the Navajo Tribal Police are the subjects of a series of mystery novels by Tony Hillerman. The novels deal with two fictional officers named Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee.
