Interior Secretary Salazar Promises to Address Crime in Indian Country

I was a little hesitant about Ken Salazar being Interior Secretary because of his less than stellar record for protecting the environment, but it looks like he's on the same page as other parts of the Obama Administration on crime in Indian Country.

Here's an excerpt from an AP article on the subject. It's worth reading the whole article, here.

By CARSON WALKER
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- As the Obama administration sets out its agenda, tribes are wondering how the White House will handle the high crime rate on many of the nation's American Indian reservations.

New Interior Secretary Ken Salazar says quelling lawlessness is among his top priorities and that he hopes to have a plan in place by year's end.

"This is a pressing enough issue that it is one of those first-tier issues for us," Salazar said during a recent interview.

"We know the problems that are out there. We know the levels of violence and crime that we're seeing in reservations all across the country."

Salazar said the first task is a review of the law enforcement situation and a determination of what resources are available. Then Interior will collaborate with other agencies to develop a plan, he said.

"I think it will involve the Department of Justice, it will involve tribal authorities, but we're not there yet," Salazar said.

"It's a problem crying out for a solution."

The article also states that the recent Bureau of Indian Affairs police surge on Standing Rock this year resulted in 700 arrests the first month, and then dropped off to 300, and that people started to feel safer. At the end, after the "surge" is over, the reservation will have a total of 13 officers, 4 more than before the surge. Well, it's a start.