Goggles-sponsored bill signed by Gov. Mead, allows for law enforcement backup on Wind River Indian Reservation
Gov. Matt Mead signed the Peace Officer Immunity bill today with Rep. Patrick Goggles, D-Ethete. (Joshua Scheer photo)
By Joshua Scheer, reporter, county10.com
(Cheyenne, Wyo.) – Rep. Patrick Goggles, D-Ethete, was present this afternoon at a bill signing of a piece of legislation that will allow other law enforcement agencies to assist tribal police on the Wind River Indian Reservation.
Goggles was a co-sponsor on House Bill 21, now House Enrolled Act 26, titled Peace Officer Immunity. In a brief interview yesterday, Goggles said this was a bill he’s worked on for several years. It was also the first bill he mentioned when asked what stood out to him about this year’s legislative session.
“It allows them to have authority outside their jurisdiction,” Goggles said. Now, Wyoming Highway Patrol, Fremont County Sheriff’s Office or municipal law enforcement may be called to assist the Wind River Police Department or Bureau of Indian Affairs and be protected by the law.
According to the bill, a memorandum of understanding must be signed between agencies and approved by an attorney general before assistance may occur.
Goggles spoke before the House of Representatives yesterday. (Joshua Scheer photo)
Gov. Matt Mead, at the bill signing, said it must be hard for agencies not to be able to help each other out on occasion. He told Goggles he appreciated his work on this effort.
During the interview yesterday, Goggles’ laundry listed a number of items he felt have been important this session.
“Every session has its own signature,” Goggles said. This year’s theme: “I’ve never seen that done before.” He cited the bill that stripped Superintendent of Public Instruction Cindy Hill of some of her authority as an example.
He said he’s also worked on a bill that would allow for certain certifications for a potential merger between Fremont Counseling and the Fremont County Alcohol Crisis Center.
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You know why no other Tribe does this? Its because federal is law of land and State don't belong. We forgot the past. A long time ago the representative we had to D.C. and he is the reason they did not want non native cops on the reservation. He was killed trying to help the Native people. Elders always said not to give them rights here because the got no brakes and they are not nice to Natives. He got killed and it was shut off from the white law.
Did the Tribe support this legislation? Is this going to also give Tribal Police "Authority outside of their jurisdiction?" Since when does the state have the authority to authorize anyone to do anything on federal land, which has been set aside from state jurisdiction for the benefit of the Tribe (s) ?
I posted you a message on this on the site itself.
cool let Idaho Tribes know.
WELL AS A RETIRED OFFICER MYSELF I THINK ITS PRETTY COOL TO HAVE THEM BACK ON THE REZ AGAIN'' BEING THAT THE REZ POLICE DOn't STAND UP TO THERE JOB AN UP HOLD THE LAW HERE ON THE REZ'' IAM ALL FOR THIS BILL BEING PASSED '' WHEN AN IF YOU EVER LOOKED AT IT CLOSE THE REZ POLICE HAS ALL THE CARS AND NEW EVERY THING'' BUT NO REAL OFFICERS AT ALL SO WHAT GOOD IS IT TO DO THE POEPLE ITS JUST FOR SHOW AN TELL'' BE GLAD WHEN WE GET THE COUNTY OFFICERS BACK OUT HERE TO DO THE REZ POLICE S JOB OF UP HOLDING THE LAW'' THE LAW AN ORDER HERE ON THE REZ SCARED TO HIRE AN MAKE NEW PROGRAMS'' AN WORK WITH THE COMMUITTIY THEY ALL KEEP DARK SECERTS FROM THE PEOPLE THAT's WHY CRIME IS UP AN UP HERE THIS SO SAD FOR A POLICE DEPT,''.
This DID NOT come through Shoshone General Council and therefore is NOT legitimate.
SHOSHONE are the TREATY people. The State of Wyoming DOES NOT have ANY authority over us on this reservation. ALL laws are to come through SHOSHONE GENERAL COUNCIL as we have retained that authority.
This bill is not worth the ink that printed it. ALL legislation has to be approved by the SHOSHONE GENERAL COUNCIL. We have retained all authority to make law on our reservation. The Arapahoe tribe has NO authority to make agreements like this. ONLY the SHOSHONE are the TREATY people that have authority here. This is like asking your neighbor the right to give others to trespass in your own house.
Wade too be honest your sounding more ingnorant each day. What did the arapahoes do to you? Kind of sounds like you have a personal vendetta against them
You need to look at WHO has the authority here. It is the SHOSHONE tribe. The Arapahoe tribe does not have the right to make decisions for the SHOSHONE tribe. It is the Arapahoe tribe and those the believe that they have authority here that are IGNORANT. Research your history and the law. AND I DO have a personal interest in protecting my tribe, the SHOSHONE.
The Arapahoe tribe does NOT have authority to make this agreement. ALL laws have to be approved by the Shoshone General Council. This is not valid.
This bill is about law enforcement assistance. Its about a BIA Officer who has to respond to a violent dangerous incident by himself. Why cant cops call for assistance if they need it. Those of you who oppose this must like the mayhem, drunkeness and death seen every day in this area. Cops are not bad people they need help like everyone else from time to time. Only criminals oppose legislation like this.
Amen Brett!!! Thank you for your compassion and dedication to your job!
To say only criminals oppose this legislation is the remark of an uneducated ignorant person that does not understand the meaning of TREATY RIGHTS that the Shoshone People have. Let me give you a small lesson.
1. The first treaty with the Shoshone tribe was in 1863 followed by the 1868. These were held in Ft. Bridger, hence the Ft. Bridger Treaties.
2. When you look at the dates, Wyoming was not even a state at that time. That would not happen for over 20 years. This means that the Shoshone Treaty was a "Nation to Nation" treaty with the U.S. government.
3. The Arapahoe tribe IS NOT included in this treaty. They have a different treaty that gives them rights in Oklahoma and Montana, NOT here in Wyoming.
4. So, you have a tribe that does not have the authority or Treaty rights on this reservation making deals with the State of Wyoming that does not have jurisdiction on this reservation…Does that sound wrong? Well, it is.
5. The SHOSHONE Reservation is a Sovereign Nation, meaning we are a completely different nation within the United States.
6. The Shoshone Tribe IS NOT under the authority of the State of Wyoming.
7. The Arapahoe tribe wants to diminish Shoshone rights by conspiring with the State of Wyoming to try and get things like this into our reservation. The Arapahoe wants this because they are finding out that their rights are only what the Shoshone allow. Look at them wanting to KILL eagles, look at them failing to take Riverton over, and many other law suits that they are losing because they DO NOT have the rights here they wish they had.
8. The State of Wyoming wants to diminish our rights because the establishment of our reservation and our treaty rights SUPERCEDE their authority. That is why they cannot tax us on the reservation.
So, your comment about "the mayhem, drunkeness, and death" is a racist viewpoint against natives to begin with and an ignorant and uneducated rant that has no validity.
Idle No More is about Treaty rights and natives standing up for their Treaty rights. That is what this is about, PROTECTING SHOSHONE TREATY RIGHTS from those that want to take them away, and that is the State of Wyoming and the Arapahoe band living within SHOSHONE borders. You trying to take or assume any jurisdiction is the same as stealing our land like non-Shoshone have been doing since the first treaties were signed. The difference now is that we are no longer "Blanket Indians" that cannot read, write, speak, or understand English. We are now educated and learning what our true rights are about. And we are going to fight for our rights…
The State of Wyoming has no more jurisdiction than any other state in the U.S.
The Arapahoe band has no more treaty rights or authority here than the Southern Arapahoe tribe in Oklahoma.
So how can they make these decisions for the Shoshone tribe given these facts? THEY DON"T without Shoshone consent!!!
Next stupid racist uneducated comment please…I am happy to set you straight
Here is a question.Should the U.S. uphold all the treaties it has signed with other countries? These treaties have kept us out of wars. Look at the treaties with USSR, Mexico, the Dutch, Manilla, Cuba, The UN Charter, United Kindom, and all the other treaties? Why does the United States and its citizens think that the Native American treaties are any less important? Why do common citizens thing that we do not matter when it comes to upholding our treaty rights? What would the United States do if another country put a treaty that it signed into jeopardy? Why does the United States allow Native American treaties, some of the first treaties it signed, allow states to infringe on our rights? Does a state have the right to put a treaty with the USSR in jeopardy? Since it does not, then why does a state have the right to put a Native American treaty into jeopardy? My tribe cannot put the UN Charter into jeopardy, why do you think the Arapahoe band living here should be allowed to infringe on SHOSHONE treaty rights?
what does being able to bust whites an natives have anything to do with a treaty,the laws are the same.
It has specifically to do with jurisdiction. It has specifically to do with the agreement being with the right entity. The Shoshone Tribe has the treaty and that is where the governor needs to go to get permission to do something like this. Can the Utah State Police come into Wyoming for this very same purpose? Again, many of you non-Shoshone DO NOT understand what the Shoshone Treaty really means. Why don't I give a complete stranger the right to go into your house when they want? That is the same thing.
The laws ARE NOT THE SAME as we have different laws than the state and feds.
maybe not the same,probably not.
where does the sovereign nation end then1868 or old school if then i was tried on treaty ground.haha,thats a big can of worms.
Is the state of Wyoming, Lander, Riverton and surrounding areas going to allow our police the same? Nope…
Sorry I woudl have to oppose this bill. As it will give the state more power. And well with the way that Non-Natives still treat our people on and off the rez. You have to really think hard about this! It is only another avenue to say that we can't take care of our own. Which I believe we can and will.
Sorry I woudl have to oppose this bill. As it will give the state more power. And well with the way that Non-Natives still treat our people on and off the rez. You have to really think hard about this! It is only another avenue to say that we can't take care of our own. Which I believe we can and will.
i think thats the idea tribal cops cn arrest everywhere an white cops too.i imagine most cops are for it,i cant say im against it.
Arland, I feel that you are absoutely correct. I work for the Fremont County Sheriff Office, and know what its like to hear an officer on the Wind River Indian Reservation respond to a serious incident, only to be responding by himself, and have to worry about (Treaty) jurisdiction issues and being worried if I will have any kind of liability helping a BROTHER out on the reservation. Dont get me wrong if a BROTHER on the reservation is calling for help I am going….along with every other Law Enforcment BROTHER that is working a shift that day. Although there is some ill feelings as it pertains to treatys, it should be known that people on the resevation deserve to feel safe and secure within their own homes. People on the reservation know their Law Enforcement is at a minimal staff, whether the agreement is valid or not the main objective is to keep the people on the reservations welfare and safety a top priority, you need Law Enforcement to do that, whether it be a County, State, or Municipal entity. I understand that their are people who are passionate about this issue and how it came about, I however dont feel it was an out right shot to any tribe, just an issue pertaining to making the reservation a better place in the end….
I hear your words with helping a fellow police officer. I am ex-Navy. I know full well when you want to help a fellow counterpart, but if the proper protocol is not there then it open up a whole can of worms that you wish you never did…If all you non-Shoshone want to help our reservation then the best thing for you to do is let us handle our business. That is what SELF DETERMINATION is all about and GUARANTEED in our treaties. This bill is WHITE people and ARAPAHOE infringing on SHOSHONE TREATY rights. Both of which have NO AUTHORITY to do so!
right now reservation cops cannot even ticket a non-indian. Look at all the vehicular killings by non-indians that have killed indians and they ALL got off scott free. If it was reversed, the indian is charged to the fullest. BLATANT RACISM against Native Americans! This is 1960s deep south racism we have here in Fremont County! This issue is about taking more of SHOSHONE Treaty rights! I will stand against this to the fullest! I am tired of getting treated like a criminal here in Fremont County!
Wade your treaty will not get you any special treatment on OUR SHARED reservation. You know damn well the Shoshone tribe has been compensated numerous times for our half of the reservation. With or without your treaty, we still own half. We cant do anything without you and you cannot without us if the result ends in infringement…..lets try working together for once huh? There are changes on the way with VAWA and other jurisdictional challenges. You would think after all these years we could sit down and come to an agreement that serves everybody's interest. First we must work together…
sounds like wade lebeau cant take something good like this and accept it without turning into a "racial" arguement…. can take your radical racial ideas and go cry over in the corner!
Great work Patrick
With the outside help will give our BIA police less area to cover. and all the Stuff that comes down. If you guys really read history Arapaho Tribe was force on this reservation by the government. People talking about Treaty Rights we live with in Now day not back then please give it up. We have to think about it will save the crime and drugs.
The Arapahoe tribe WAS NOT forced here, but you are VERY FREE TO LEAVE!!