Hoopa tribe set to make emergency declaration due to crime

The Hoopa Valley Tribal Council is poised to declare a state of emergency Thursday due to an increasing criminal climate on the reservation, including the stabbing death of a Hoopa man last week.

“The amount of crimes and the myriad of crimes is what has everyone concerned for their well-being and safety,” Hoopa Valley Tribal Council Chairman Ryan Jackson said. “... It seems to be escalating to a point where folks are not feeling safe in being able to just live in the community. As a result of that, questions continue to arise about the current level of law enforcement here on the reservation.”

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office and Hoopa Valley Tribal Council are working to restore an agreement that would deputize the tribe’s police officers to allow them to enforce California’s criminal laws. The tribal police department lost that ability last year when Sheriff Mike Downey dissolved a 20-year-old memorandum of understanding with the tribe due to what he described as a significant lack of tribal officers. As a result, the tribe can only enforce its own civil laws, but not make any arrests.

http://www.times-standard.com/general-news/20160217/hoopa-tribe-set-to-make-emergency-declaration-due-to-crime