Governor Kitzhaber gives tribal police full authority statewide
COOS BAY, ORE. - Continuing our coverage of Governor John Kitzhaber's visit to the coast, he and State Representative Arnie Roblan stopped by the Tribal Hall of the Confederated Tribes to sign Senate Bill 412, which gives tribal police full authority statewide.
In front of tribal representatives from across the state, Governor Kitzhaber discussed the senate bill as being a win/win situation for the people of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes.
Representative Roblan feels the bill was necessary to bring a universal standard to the different relationships tribal police experienced in Lane County, Douglas County and Coos County.
"Going back and forth, they had, before this bill, three different sets of requirements that they had to deal with. In Coos County, they had been deputized so they could act like a police officer in Coos County. They went into Douglas County and they had a different relationship in that county. They went to Lane County, they had a totally different relationship. So, the ability to do and act like a police officer was dependent on where they happened to be at any particular time," explains Roblan.
Kitzhaber is proud to say, the bill recognizes tribal sovereignty, while improving public safety by increasing the number of law enforcement officers patrolling South Coast streets.
"That makes a big difference for the safety of Oregonians. We've had big talks and now we have our 24/7 coverage, but it's not great coverage, and the Oregon Coast was a particular place where there wasn't. Now we have two other tribes on the Southern Coast that are going to help us with enforcing the rules of Oregon," Roblan went onto say.
Representative Roblan says both Republicans and Democrats backed the creation Senate Bill 412, and that it wasn't partisan.
In front of tribal representatives from across the state, Governor Kitzhaber discussed the senate bill as being a win/win situation for the people of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes.
Representative Roblan feels the bill was necessary to bring a universal standard to the different relationships tribal police experienced in Lane County, Douglas County and Coos County.
"Going back and forth, they had, before this bill, three different sets of requirements that they had to deal with. In Coos County, they had been deputized so they could act like a police officer in Coos County. They went into Douglas County and they had a different relationship in that county. They went to Lane County, they had a totally different relationship. So, the ability to do and act like a police officer was dependent on where they happened to be at any particular time," explains Roblan.
Kitzhaber is proud to say, the bill recognizes tribal sovereignty, while improving public safety by increasing the number of law enforcement officers patrolling South Coast streets.
"That makes a big difference for the safety of Oregonians. We've had big talks and now we have our 24/7 coverage, but it's not great coverage, and the Oregon Coast was a particular place where there wasn't. Now we have two other tribes on the Southern Coast that are going to help us with enforcing the rules of Oregon," Roblan went onto say.
Representative Roblan says both Republicans and Democrats backed the creation Senate Bill 412, and that it wasn't partisan.
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