South Dakotans, native and non-native, deserve and should demand to be safe in their homes, on the streets, and in their workplaces. As Attorney General, and as a former U.S. Attorney, State’s Attorney, and Tribal Prosecutor, I do not accept “jurisdiction” as an obstacle to law enforcement’s ability and responsibility to collectively protect everyone in South Dakota, on and off reservations.
We can always strive to do better. Recent publicity has shed light on the importance of building on and strengthening what law enforcement already does to protect all South Dakotans, including the following:
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Joint training of tribal officers at the Attorney General’s Office, now including a separate class for officers on and near our reservations.
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Joint Drug and Violent Crime Task Forces with our tribal, federal, state and local partners.
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Joint powers agreements between the state and tribes for the presence and assistance of law enforcement.
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Joint victim-related services.
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Child and Sexual Abuse Advocacy Task Forces.
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A special position for missing and murdered indigenous persons established within the Office of the Attorney General.
More: Commentary: Now that Noem knows what’s in her own book, she should tell us how it got there
This is our opportunity to carry out the Year of Reconciliation that Governor George S. Mickelson began. It may have already started with the Special Joint Law Enforcement Course, which was supported by Governor (Kristi) Noem, and the regional training efforts of Senators (Mike) Rounds and (John) Thune.
We must seize this opportunity above the political noise. I will do my part as everyone’s Attorney General, and I plan to visit our tribal partners and continue the conversation about how law enforcement can better work together and protect all South Dakotans.
Marty Jackley is in his fourth term as South Dakota’s attorney general, having served from 2009 to 2019 and then being re-elected in 2022. He also previously served as U.S. Attorney for South Dakota, special prosecutor for the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Tribe, state attorney for both Haakon and Jones counties, and as a partner for the Rapid City law firm of Gunderson, Palmer, Nelson and Ashmore.
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Jackley: Public Safety for South Dakotans
