Workshop Description: It has always been generally difficult for many Tribal Police Departments to recruit, hire and retain the highest quality of officers to serve their communities. Often low pay, lack of retirement programs, minimal benefits, remote working conditions, and cultural barriers can contribute to this challenge. Add a national crisis such as the current health crisis, with tribe’s being especially hard hit and the political divide that has led to a strong anti-police environment that is also present in Indian Country. What can Tribes do to ensure that they are bringing in the best candidates to work in their police departments? How has current events impacted this effort? What are the challenges for tribal members to qualify for police positions? Indian Country faces their own unique problems that require police attention, including the missing and murdered Native people crisis. How can we balance the needs of the tribes with the needs of their police? This session will provide a variety of ideas and suggestions to address the recruiting issues along with ways to keep officers from leaving for “greener pastures? Examples of identifying tribal members to become viable candidates, for their own agencies will be offered, along with steps that can be taken to promote a professional growth to reach the administrative levels of policing. How the agencies can build Community Wellness through collaboration with tribal organizations, community members and outside agencies for problem identification and problems solving.

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