North Dakota Graduates First Class of Tribal Police Recruits in Localised Training Milestone

DEVILS LAKE, NORTH DAKOTA — A milestone in Indigenous law enforcement was reached on 15 September 2026, as the first class of tribal police recruits graduated from a new pilot training program at Camp Grafton. The 14-week initiative, known as the Indian Country Police Officer Training Program, represents a significant shift toward localising recruitment and training for tribal nations in the northern United States. Twelve recruits representing nine tribal law enforcement agencies participated in the inaugural course at the North Dakota National Guard base. Previously, the only basic training option for tribal officers was the U.S. Indian Police Academy in New Mexico. Leaders from the northern region noted that the vast distance to New Mexico often acted as a barrier to recruitment, as it forced candidates to leave their families for months at a time. Charles Addington, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) principal director for justice services, stated that the response to the pilot has been "overwhelmingly positive." He noted that the program provides renewed hope for agencies by offering a more accessible training option. The pilot aimed to assess the facilities at Camp Grafton to ensure it can host larger classes of 24 to 36 officers in the future. Jamie Azure, Chairman of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, highlighted the personal benefits for the recruits. He noted that the localized training allows people to serve their own communities without being displaced across the country. This sentiment was echoed by Sgt. Mike Roy of the Three Affiliated Tribes, who reflected that having a closer training site would allow officers to return home on weekends to be with their families. The curriculum included nearly 600 hours of instruction covering federal and tribal criminal law, emergency vehicle operations, and firearms fundamentals. The BIA plans to expand this offering over the next year to include training for tribal correctional officers and specialized courses in handling child and elder abuse investigations.