Indian tribal police
Encyclopedia
Indian tribal police are peace officer
s hired by those Native American
tribes which have a constitutional government on Reservations
, as opposed to hereditary chiefs. Tribal police historically had several different titles—sheriffs, constables, regulators, lighthorsemen
, etc.— and today work closely with local, state, and federal police agencies.
Peace officer
A law enforcement officer , in North America, is any public-sector employee or agent whose duties involve the enforcement of laws. The phrase can include police officers, prison officers, customs officers, immigration officers, bailiffs, probation officers, parole officers, auxiliary officers, and...
s hired by those Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
tribes which have a constitutional government on Reservations
Indian reservation
An American Indian reservation is an area of land managed by a Native American tribe under the United States Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs...
, as opposed to hereditary chiefs. Tribal police historically had several different titles—sheriffs, constables, regulators, lighthorsemen
Lighthorse (American Indian police)
Lighthorse was the name given by the Five Civilized Tribes of the United States to their mounted police force. The Lighthorse were generally organized into companies and assigned to different districts. Perhaps the most famous were the Cherokee Lighthorsemen which had their origins in Georgia...
, etc.— and today work closely with local, state, and federal police agencies.
See also
- BIA Police
- United States Indian PoliceUnited States Indian PoliceThe United States Indian Police were organized in 1880 by John Q. Tufts the Indian Commissioner in Muskogee, Indian Territory, to police the Five Civilized Tribes. The USIP recruited many of their police officers from the ranks of the existing Indian Lighthorsemen...
- Indian agency policeIndian agency policeIndian agency police were policemen hired by the Indian agent during the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, assigned to a Native American tribe. Many tribes had no recognizable governments and therefore no tribal laws. On these reservations, the Indian Agent hired tribal members to effect law and...
- Aboriginal Police in CanadaAboriginal Police in CanadaAboriginal Police in Canada are police forces responsible for public order on First Nations across Canada.The national government created First Nations police forces for greater sensitivity to the First Nations. Past conflicts, with some deaths, have created tension between non-aboriginal police...