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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2011)
Smoke Signals 3 AUGUST 1,2011 Tribal member Jake McKnight graduates from police academy By Ron Karten Smoke Signals staff writer It's been a year in coming and it's not over yet, but the Grand Ronde Tribe's effort to fund its own police force is a step closer to reality. On Friday, July 22, Tribal mem ber and Forest Patrol Officer Jake McKnight, 33, graduated from the state Department of Public Safety Standards and Training, and is now the Grand Ronde Tribe's first police officer. While in training, McKnight was awarded the best in class out of 325 trainees in Defensive Training. "It is voted on by the trainers in the academy," he said. "It's a historic time and a historic day for the Tribe," said Pete Wake land, Tribal member and Director of Development for the Tribe. He is des ignated, by Tribal Council resolution, as the Tribal Police supervisor. "I have no law enforcement pow ers," Wakeland said. "I am simply as signed to supervise our police officer and will continue to be our point of contact and liaison where police, fire and public safety are concerned." 'The result," he said, "is that we are enhancing security not only on Tribal lands, but in the local area as well. I'm incredibly proud of what's been accomplished, of Jake, and I look forward to continuing our relationship with the neighboring counties in promoting the highest level of public safety possible." On Friday, July 22, Gov. John Kitzhaber signed a bill that that recognizes Tribal police officers as police officers under state law, giv ing them law enforcement abilities off their reservations. There is one more step for McK night, which is up to three months of field training still to be com pleted. For the field training, McK night will work out in the field with another officer, possibly from another Tribal police force, until his counterpart clears him for duty. A H I? (' Photo by Michelle Alalmo Tribal mtmbw Jake McKnight haads into tha auditorium at tha Oragon Public Safaty Acadamy in Salam for tha graduation caramony of Basic Polica Class No. 325 on Friday, July 22. McKnight racantly complatad tha Oragon Department of Public Safaty Standards and Training to bacoma tha first officer of tha Grand Ronda Tribal Polica Department. Meanwhile, McKnight will be out on the Grand Ronde Reservation, seeing to the public safety and, he says, earning the respect of those he is out there to protect. "It's been a huge process," said McKnight. He started a year ago, "if not longer," getting Tribal Council to approve a resolution for a Tribal police department and prepar ing the paperwork to get into the academy. The Tribe passed the resolution authorizing a Tribal police force on Dec. 22, 2010. Then it was on to the academy for McKnight. The academy oversees a 17-week, 640-hour course that includes physical training and the study of laws and practices. "If I was ever in the military, I'm sure it would have been a lot like the police academy," McKnight said. "About 60 percent of the candi dates were ex-military. There was a lot of marching together; making sure you're on time. To me, it was almost like law school and basic training in the military. And there was a lot of testing. Every three to four weeks including a three-hour midterm and a three-hour final exam." Tribal officers-in-training from Warm Springs attended the acad emy with McKnight, and other Tribal officers-in-training also have gone through the academy. "I learned a lot about the state laws, when they apply and when they don't; a lot about the Miranda warning, when it applies and when it doesn't; a lot about physical force, when it applies and when it doesn't." The Tribe still needs a police ve hicle that meets state standards. Agreements with county courts and jails still have to be worked out. And the Tribe's own criminal code still needs to be written. It was noted at the academy that the Tribe does not yet have a Tribal law enforcement structure to sup port police work, McKnight said. "But I told them, you have to start somewhere." A currently pending grant appli cation would fund two more police positions, a sergeant and another officer, but Wakeland noted that the Tribe "is not going to grow a huge police department." "I feel great," said McKnight. "I feel like it's moving along; and it's going to be successful. I want to thank Tribal Council for this op portunity." D iiiuniiiuuniiHnunuinniiHuiiHiMHiiiiuuiiiiiniiiuiiuiiiiMiiuiiiuuniiHniuiuiMnuuuuiiniiuuniiuunuiuniuiiiuuuuiiiiiiiiiiiiiii. I Diabetes Wellness screenings set A Diabetes Wellness Screening will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20, at the Contest Powwow at Uyxat Powwow Grounds near Fort Yamhill State Park. Screening is open to Tribal members and spouses on the Skoo- kum Health Care Plan. The screening is sponsored by Tribal Council and the Tribal Health & Wellness Center. 1 For more information, contact Bonnie Merrier at 503-879-2016. B IMIIIIIIIMIIIIIMHIIIIIIinilMIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIlF CTGR annual fish di Committee & Special Event Board meeting days and times Below is the most current information on the meeting days and times for Tribal Committees and Special Event Boards: Ceremonial Hunt Board meets as needed. Chair: Shonn Leno. Cultural Trust Board meets at 4 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month. Chair: Perri McDaniel. Culture Committee meets at 1 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month in Modular No. 3. Chair: Kathy Provost. Education Committee meets at 5:15 p.m. on the first Monday of the month in the Adult Education Building. Chair: Shelby Rogers. Elders' Committee meets at 10 a.m. the third Wednesday of the month in the Elders' Activity Center. Chair: Gladys Hobbs. Enrollment Committee meets quarterly in Room 204 of the Gover nance Building. Acting Chair: Robert Schmid. Fish & Wildlife Committee meets at 5:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month at the Natural Resources Building. Chair: Harold Lyon. Health Committee meets at 10 a.m. the second Wednesday of the month in the Tribal Wellness Center. Acting Chair: Patti Tom-Martin. Powwow Special Event Board meets at 5 p.m. the first Thursday of the month at the Tribal Community Center. Acting Chair: Dana Ainam. Rodeo Special Event Board meets at 6 p.m. the first Thursday of the month at the Tribal Rodeo Office. Acting Chair: Harold Lyon. Social Services Committee meets at 4 p.m. the second Monday of the month in the Social Services Conference Room. Chair: Ron Hudson. Timber Committee meets at 5 p.m. the second Thursday of the month at the Natural Resources Building. Chair: Bob Mercier. Veterans Special Event Board meets at 4 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month in the Tribal Community Center. Chair: Dakota Whitecloud. Natural Resources Division Fish Lab 47010 S.W. Hebo Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347 ELDER DAY ONLY MUST be an ELDER or picking up for an ELDER Thursday, Aug. 18, 9 a.m. 4 p.m. All MEMBERSHIP Friday, Aug. 19, 9 a.m. 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20, 9 a.m. - Noon Must show Tribal I.D. If picking up for others: a signed note with copy of Tribal I.D. is required. No early or late pick up! Questions? Contact Natural Resources at 503-879-2424. 2011 SUBSISTANCE - RELEASE FORM I agree to take full responsibility for picking up salmon for my family. I have obtained Tribal ID and notes from each member. Listed below are the names and roll numbers I will be picking up for today. NAME ROLL NAME ROLl SIGNATURE: DATE:
