Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
Sheriif's Desk
This is an example of a cross-deputization card carried by VCSO deputies granting authority to make arrests on the reservation.
On Thursday, June 10, six officers from the Valley County Sheriff's Office completed their cross-deputization training with Chief of Police Jim Summers of the Fort Peck Tribal Law and Justice Office.
Training was conducted at the Valley County Courthouse.
The presentation included four hours of cultural sensitivity, case law and a history of Assiniboine and Sioux culture.
I have been working with Chief Summers for the past three years to bring cross-deputization to fruition.
Covid-19 was a major culprit in hinderance of this event taking place in 2020.
So, with Cross-Deputization in place what now?
Valley County Sheriff Officers who are cross-deputized are allowed arrest authority of a tribal member on the reservation.
One Third of the Fort Peck Reservation is found in Valley County. There are two small towns on the western edge of the reservation, Oswego and Frazer.
There is a population of approximately 400 people in these towns and a school in Frazer that supports kindergarten through high school seniors.
During my last election campaign, I visited door to door with the residents of Frazer and visited the Frazer school frequently making acquaintance with the staff and kids.
Hearing the stories of criminal activity and problems with drugs, I learned Frazer and Oswego feel left out on the fringe by law enforcement coming from Poplar and Valley County Deputies.
I decided to make every effort to work in cooperation with the Fort Peck Tribal Chairman, Mr. Azure, and the elected Tribal Council to get our Valley County Deputies cross-deputized.
I have been received warmly by the Tribal Council and the Law and Justice Committee and together with Chief Summers we have accomplished this goal.
Valley County Officers will continue to work in cooperation with Fort Peck Tribal Police on the reservation and will now have the additional authority to arrest and detain during criminal encounters in this portion of Valley County.
During the past twelve months, Valley County Officers have responded to calls for service in Frazer and Oswego over 260 times.
Sheriff Tom Boyer has been in office since January 2019. He also serves as Valley County Coroner.
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