Five counties in Idaho passed a resolution against the State and Indian Tribal Law Enforcement Act.

The bill allows a tribe to enforce state law against non-Indians if a county refuses to negotiate a cooperative agreement. It was designed to address a conflict between Coeur d'Alene Tribe and Benewah County, whose sheriff backed out of a joint policing deal.

The counties say the bill is unnecessary because most of them already have agreements with the tribe. They also say tribal police departments aren't accountable to the public and aren't subject to the state's open meeting laws.

The bill requires tribal officers to be certified by the state. The tribe would have to carry insurance and waive sovereign immunity for lawsuits involving officers.

Get the Story:
Counties oppose tribal policing bill (The Spokesman-Review 3/4)

Relevant Documents:
DOC: State and Indian Tribal Law Enforcement Act

Related Stories:
Coeur d'Alene Tribe at odds with county over police (02/11)
Coeur d'Alene Tribe law enforcement bill introduced (2/10)
Editorial: Sheriff wrong about Coeur d'Alene policing (2/8)
Coeur d'Alene law enforcement bill stirs controversy (02/05)
Editorial: Back tribal arrest authority over non-Indians (2/3)