Oregon Public Broadcasting

The Oregon State Sheriffs' Association has come out against a bill that would give tribal police officers authority off the reservation.

Last month, the Oregon Supreme Court ruled that tribal police officers do have the authority to make an arrest off reservation if a crime is committed on tribal lands and the suspect flees. 

Senate Bill 412 would allow officers to make arrests in crimes committed off the reservation.

Holly Russell is the Executive Director of the Oregon State Sheriffs' Association.

She says the tribal police wouldn’t be subject to the same regulation and oversight as regular Oregon police officers.

And, she says the bill wouldn’t give Oregon police officers reciprocal authority to enforce the law on tribal lands.

Holly Russell: “In other words tribal police agencies would have more authority than any other police agency in Oregon.”

Tim Addleman is Chief of Police for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla.

In public testimony submitted last month, he said changing the law would help keep the public and tribal officers safe.