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
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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
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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: