Navajo Tribal Police
Encyclopedia
The Navajo Nation Police (formerly known as the Navajo Tribal Police) is the law enforcement agency on the Navajo Nation
in the Southwestern United States
. It is under the Navajo Division of Public Safety. It is headed by a Chief of Police, six Police
Captains and eight Police Lieutenants. It includes: Internal Affairs
, Patrol
, K-9 Unit, Dive Team, Tactical Operations Team, Traffic Unit, Fiscal
management, Recruitment
, and Training
Divisions. The Navajo Nation Police are responsible for seven districts, Chinle
, Crownpoint, Dilkon, Kayenta, Shiprock
, Tuba City, and Window Rock. There are also several substations in each district ranging from one man substations or up to five officers each. Currently there are 330 police officers, 45 criminal investigators and there are 279 civilians, acting as support staff for the department . There are an approximate 1.9 police officers per 1,000 people and one officer is responsible for patrolling 70 square miles (181.3 km²) of reservation land. The Navajo Nation Police are funded by federal
contracts and grants and general Navajo Nation funds.
established law enforcement as the responsibility of the Federal Government and was administered by the Branch of Law and Order. The first Navajo Police were created in 1872. They were dissolved three years later despite their successes. Although there were police on the reservation, they were funded and supported by the United States
Government. The Navajo Nation Police Department was not re-established until 1959 per request of the Navajo Tribal Council
. Not only were they responsible for law enforcement, but they were also responsible for the care and custody of prisoners.
and 4x4 Jeep Liberty
's to Sedans: Chevrolet Impala
and Ford Crown Victoria
. There is also Kawasaki Kz1000
for Motor Units, 4 Wheelers for special events/ crowd control and bicycle units. All patrol vehicles are currently outfitted with laptop computers working with local WiFi internet connections to help officers write and file reports electronically. The department recently obtained a new mobile command post vehicle and is assigned to the Shiprock District.
novels by Tony Hillerman
. The novels deal with two fictional officers named Joe Leaphorn
and Jim Chee
.
Navajo Nation
The Navajo Nation is a semi-autonomous Native American-governed territory covering , occupying all of northeastern Arizona, the southeastern portion of Utah, and northwestern New Mexico...
in the Southwestern United States
Southwestern United States
The Southwestern United States is a region defined in different ways by different sources. Broad definitions include nearly a quarter of the United States, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah...
. It is under the Navajo Division of Public Safety. It is headed by a Chief of Police, six Police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
Captains and eight Police Lieutenants. It includes: Internal Affairs
Internal affairs (law enforcement)
The internal affairs division of a law enforcement agency investigates incidents and plausible suspicions of lawbreaking and professional misconduct attributed to officers on the force...
, Patrol
Patrol
A patrol is commonly a group of personnel, such as police officers or soldiers, that are assigned to monitor a specific geographic area.- Military :...
, K-9 Unit, Dive Team, Tactical Operations Team, Traffic Unit, Fiscal
Fiscal policy
In economics and political science, fiscal policy is the use of government expenditure and revenue collection to influence the economy....
management, Recruitment
Recruitment
Recruitment refers to the process of attracting, screening, and selecting qualified people for a job. For some components of the recruitment process, mid- and large-size organizations often retain professional recruiters or outsource some of the process to recruitment agencies.The recruitment...
, and Training
Training
The term training refers to the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and competencies as a result of the teaching of vocational or practical skills and knowledge that relate to specific useful competencies. It forms the core of apprenticeships and provides the backbone of content at institutes of...
Divisions. The Navajo Nation Police are responsible for seven districts, Chinle
Chinle, Arizona
Chinle is a census-designated place in Apache County, Arizona, United States. The population was 5,366 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Chinle is located at ....
, Crownpoint, Dilkon, Kayenta, Shiprock
Shiprock
Shiprock is a rock formation rising nearly above the high-desert plain on the Navajo Nation in San Juan County, New Mexico, USA. It has a peak elevation of above the sea level. It lies about southwest of the town of Shiprock, which is named for the peak...
, Tuba City, and Window Rock. There are also several substations in each district ranging from one man substations or up to five officers each. Currently there are 330 police officers, 45 criminal investigators and there are 279 civilians, acting as support staff for the department . There are an approximate 1.9 police officers per 1,000 people and one officer is responsible for patrolling 70 square miles (181.3 km²) of reservation land. The Navajo Nation Police are funded by federal
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
contracts and grants and general Navajo Nation funds.
History
The Treaty of 1868 that released the Navajos from their captivity at Fort SumnerFort Sumner
Fort Sumner was a military fort in De Baca County in southeastern New Mexico charged with the internment of Navajo and Mescalero Apache populations from 1863-1868 at nearby Bosque Redondo.-History:...
established law enforcement as the responsibility of the Federal Government and was administered by the Branch of Law and Order. The first Navajo Police were created in 1872. They were dissolved three years later despite their successes. Although there were police on the reservation, they were funded and supported by the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Government. The Navajo Nation Police Department was not re-established until 1959 per request of the Navajo Tribal Council
Navajo Tribal Council
The Navajo Nation Council is the legislative branch of the Navajo Nation government. As stipulated in the Navajo Nation Code, "The Legislative Branch shall consist of the Navajo Nation Council and any entity established under the Navajo Nation Council...
. Not only were they responsible for law enforcement, but they were also responsible for the care and custody of prisoners.
Equipment & vehicles
All officers are issued Glock 22 40 Cal. side arm, expandable baton, handcuffs, bulletproof vest, pepper spray and portable radio linked to a central dispatch. Rural substation officers are issued take home cars, a choice of a shot gun or AR15 assault rifle, spikestrips and radar guns. There are over 200 vehicles in the Police Department's fleet ranging from SUV's including: 4x4 Chevrolet Tahoes, 2WD Pursuit Tahoes, 4x4 Chevrolet Blazers, 4x4 Chevrolet SuburbanChevrolet Suburban
Chevrolet offered a station wagon body, built on the 1/2 ton truck frame. This model was specifically built for National Guard units and Civilian Conservation Corps units. Much of the body was constructed from wood, and could seat up to eight occupants....
and 4x4 Jeep Liberty
Jeep Liberty
Inspired by styling from the Dakar and Jeepster concept cars, the Liberty was intended as a replacement for the discontinued Jeep Cherokee . Three trim levels were initially offered; the top end Limited, a more rugged looking Renegade and the base Sport. All were made available with either 2WD or 4WD...
's to Sedans: Chevrolet Impala
Chevrolet Impala
The Chevrolet Impala is a full-size automobile built by the Chevrolet division of General Motors introduced for the 1958 model year. Deriving its name from the southern African antelope, Chevrolet's most expensive passenger model through 1965 had become the best-selling automobile in the United...
and Ford Crown Victoria
Ford Crown Victoria
-1992–1994:Released in March 1991 as an early 1992 model, the Crown Victoria sedan was completely redesigned with a rounder, eight-window roofline . The redesign reduced the coefficient of drag from 0.42 to 0.34; the suspension setup was also heavily revised...
. There is also Kawasaki Kz1000
Kawasaki Kz1000
The Kawasaki Kz1000 is a motorcycle manufactured in Japan by Kawasaki released in September 1976 as a 1977 model to replace the KZ900. It has an in-line 4-cylinder engine and a 5-speed transmission, in a 'one down and four up' configuration...
for Motor Units, 4 Wheelers for special events/ crowd control and bicycle units. All patrol vehicles are currently outfitted with laptop computers working with local WiFi internet connections to help officers write and file reports electronically. The department recently obtained a new mobile command post vehicle and is assigned to the Shiprock District.
Fallen officers
Since the establishment of the Navajo Tribal Police, 9 officers have died in the line of duty.| Officer | Date of Death | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Police Officer Burton Begay | |
Gunfire |
| Police Officer Loren Whitehat | |
Gunfire |
| Police Officer Roy Lee Stanley | |
Gunfire |
| Police Officer Andy Begay | |
Gunfire |
| Sergeant Hoskie Allen Gene | |
Assault |
| Police Officer II Samuel Anthony Redhouse | |
Gunfire |
| Police Officer Esther Todecheene | |
Automobile accident |
| Police Officer Winsonfred A. Filfred | |
Automobile accident |
| Sergeant Darrell Curley | |
Gunfire |
Fictional Portrayals
Officers of the Navajo Nation Police are the subjects of a series of mysteryMystery fiction
Mystery fiction is a loosely-defined term.1.It is often used as a synonym for detective fiction or crime fiction— in other words a novel or short story in which a detective investigates and solves a crime mystery. Sometimes mystery books are nonfiction...
novels by Tony Hillerman
Tony Hillerman
Tony Hillerman was an award-winning American author of detective novels and non-fiction works best known for his Navajo Tribal Police mystery novels...
. The novels deal with two fictional officers named Joe Leaphorn
Joe Leaphorn
Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn is a fictional character created by American mystery writer Tony Hillerman, one of two officers of the Navajo Tribal Police that feature in a number of novels. The other officer is Jim Chee.- Profile :...
and Jim Chee
Jim Chee
Jim Chee is one of two Navajo Tribal Police detectives in a series of mystery novels by Tony Hillerman. Unlike his superior Joe Leaphorn, the "Legendary Lieutenant", Chee wants to be a staunch believer in traditional Navajo culture; indeed, he is studying to be a traditional healer at the same...
.