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BIA: Law enforcement head offered to be reassigned
Thursday, June 3, 2004

The Bureau of Indian Affairs' top law enforcement official volunteered to be reassigned, an agency spokesperson said on Wednesday.

With the ongoing investigation into poor conditions and deaths at BIA detention facilities, speculation was that Bob Ecoffey was removed as head of the Office of Law Enforcement Services. But he offered to move positions and "we were able to accommodate him," said spokesperson Nedra Darling.

Beyond that, Darling would not comment, citing personnel reasons. She said Ecoffey, an Oglala Sioux from the Pine Ridge Reservation, would be returning to South Dakota to serve as deputy director for Indian services at BIA's Great Plains regional office.

Ecoffey was appointed to run law enforcement for the BIA two years ago. He has served a number of positions at the BIA, including superintendent of the Pine Ridge agency.

Ecoffey is credited with keeping the pressure on the FBI to solve the murder of American Indian Movement activist Anna Mae Pictou-Aquash. Two men were indicted for her 1975 death -- one was convicted and the other is awaiting extradition for a trial.

Walt Lamar has been tapped as Ecoffey's replacement. Lamar ran the office in an acting capacity in 2001.

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