FBI Chief promises more enforcement
By Jerry W. Kram
Serious crimes on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, especially those involving Native Americans, are regarded a federal offenses. As such, they are investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Making that work with state, county, tribal and local law enforcement is complicated. That was one reason, at the urging of North Dakota’s two senators, FBI Director James Comey came to New Town to meet with tribal leaders and local law enforcement agencies.
"This is a perfect place for me to come and learn what the FBI can be doing better," Comey said. "What we can do more of, what we can do differently, and better. What I have tried to do today is close my big mouth and learn how the people who know the situation so much better than I, can make the things better."
MHA Tribal Chairman Mark Fox thanked Comey for coming to Fort Berthold. He said he took the FBI director on a helicopter tour around the lake to give the director some sense of the vast area his agents and local law enforcement have to cover.
