Do Police Have the Right Focus?
Reservation residents were asked whether tribal police, federal-BIA police, or state/
county police are focusing on the right priorities. Respondents were asked to describe police
priorities or focus, and a follow-up question asked the respondent whether they thought the
police focus was the right focus, or was the police focus the right priority. Many answered the
question in yes or no terms. The answers provide data and some insight into whether reservation
residents believe that the police are focusing on the right issues. The quantitative data analysis in
the first portion of the chapter discusses crime frequency and police crime priority, and shows an
overall pattern that police gave too little priority to high-frequency crimes — domestic violence,
DUI and drug offenses — and too much attention to low priority, violent crimes,
such as
homicide, robbery, and rape. The police-focus question and most serious law and order problem
questions emphasize the most serious issues, such as drug offenses, alcohol abuse, and domestic
violence. According to reservation residents, do police focus on the right issues in the right way?
Reservation residents comment on whether they believe the right focus and priorities are taken
up by tribal police departments and non-tribal police departments — county police in Public
Law 280 jurisdictions and federal-BIA police in non-Public Law 280 jurisdictions.
Public Law 280 reservation residents (N=24) commented on whether tribal police have
the right focus. One tribal police officer in the sample is removed to remove bias, so we will
analyze the smaller sample of N=23. Sixteen Public Law 280 reservation residents (69.6%)
affirmed that Public Law 280 tribal police were focusing on the right issues. Positive comments
included references to strengthening tribal sovereignty,
community service, protection and safety,
and overwork. Seven respondents say that tribal police do not have the proper focus and
comment on the need for more attention to drug offenses, juvenile drug abuse, domestic
violence, property theft, and enforcement of existing laws.
Eighty-two Public Law 280 reservation residents commented on whether they viewed
county police focus as effective or proper. Thirty-three respondents (40.2%) say that county
police are focusing on the right issues, while 46 Public Law 280 reservation-resident respondents
(56.1%) say that county police are not focused on the right issues. Comments that county police
do not have the right focus include the need for more attention to child abuse, drug offenses,
alcohol abuse, crime prevention, more community policing, protecting and serving the
community, working with tribal government, tribal police, and community; and too much
emphasis on arrests, control, DUIs, and traffic.
Thirty-five non-Public Law 280 reservation residents gave comments and 21 (60%) say
that non-Public Law 280 tribal police have the right focus, while 34.3% say that Public Law 280
tribal police are not well focused. Comments by the respondents who believe that Public Law
280 tribal police are not well focused suggest the need for more attention to: drug offenses,
gangs, white-collar crimes, teaching the next generation, crime prevention, ensuring justice,
308
This document is a research report submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice. This report has not
been published by the Department. Opinions or points of view expressed are those of the author(s)
and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.
community relations and service, and root causes of drug abuse and alcohol abuse that lead to
domestic violence and related crimes.
Twenty-one non-Public Law 280 reservation residents commented on whether federal-BIA
police are properly focused, and 12 (57.1%) were affirmative, while 38.1% say federal-BIA
police priorities are not well focused. Respondents say federal-BIA police need to focus more on
drug offenses, alcohol abuse, young people and youth programs, justice and equity, serve and
protect,
rehabilitation services, community policing, white-collar crimes, and getting at the root
causes of crimes.
Do reservation residents believe that police are properly focused across jurisdictions and
for different types of police forces? Reservation residents provide comments on state/county,
federal-BIA, Public Law 280 tribal police, and non-Public Law 280 tribal police, which can be
grouped into two kinds of police departments — tribal police and non-tribal police departments.
We can investigate whether reservation residents believe the patterns of police focus are caused
by differences in police departments — tribal and non-tribal police — or by jurisdiction, Public
Law 280 or non-Public Law 280 jurisdictions.
Do Police Have the Right Focus?
Jurisdiction and Police Departments
According to Reservation Residents
Non-Tribal Police Tribal Police
35.00%
43.75%
52.50%
61.25%
70.00%
PL280 Non-PL280
69.6%
60.0%
40.2%
57.1%
Percentage Reporting Police Have the Right Focus
Figure 10.12
As shown in, Figure 10.12, our data sample yields a significant result for a relation
between police departments, jurisdiction, and agreement with whether police have the right focus
or not (G square = 35.4, df =4, p < .0001). In our sample, non-Public 280 reservation residents
309
This document is a research report submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice. This report has not
been published by the Department. Opinions or points of view expressed are those of the author(s)
and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.
report tribal and non-tribal police forces have the right focus about the same, but in Public Law
280 jurisdictions, reservation residents say tribal police have the right focus significantly more
often than non-tribal or state/county police. Public Law 280 reservation residents say that Public
Law 280 tribal police meet community policing expectations significantly more often than state/
county police. Most Public Law 280 reservation residents do not believe that county police meet
community expectations for focus and service. Public Law 280 tribal police are highly valued by
Public Law 280 reservation residents, and nearly 70% say that tribal police meet their
expectations for focus and service. Reservation residents say that county police are the most
disconnected police department from reservation community policing concerns and needs.
There is a significant difference between how well tribal and non-tribal police focus on
the most appropriate issues according to reservation residents (G square = 6.34, df = 1, p = .01).
Tribal police are significantly better at matching reservation-resident policing expectations than
non-tribal police. In non-Public Law 280 jurisdictions, reservation residents say federal-BIA
police and non-Public Law 280 tribal police about equally match community-policing
expectations. Reservation residents agree the federal-BIA police and tribal police in Public Law
280 jurisdictions meet community-policing expectations at about same rate.
Most non-Public
Law 280 reservations residents believe that federal-BIA and tribal police have appropriate
policing focus in non-Public Law 280 jurisdictions.
Jurisdiction main effects, differences between Public Law 280 and non-Public Law 280
jurisdictions, are not significant (G square = 2.38, df = 1, p=.12, NS). Reservation residents say
police have similar levels of focus and meet community-policing expectations in both
jurisdictions is about the same on average. Reservation residents in Public Law 280 jurisdictions
say that Public Law 280 tribal police meet community-policing expectations very well, while
state/county police meet community-policing expectations the least among police departments.
In non-Public Law 280 jurisdictions, federal-BIA and tribal police meet community-service and
focus expectations at about the same level, according to reservation residents.
