Santa Fe sheriff cuts Pojoaque Pueblo police powers
Posted at: 09/29/2012 1:43 PM
By: The Associated Press
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - Santa Fe County's sheriff has revoked state police powers from tribal officers in Pojoaque Pueblo.
Sheriff Robert Garcia says the decision he announced Friday night was primarily based on a dispute over who should bear financial liability for tribal officers commissioned by the county.
Tribal police will no longer had been able to enforce state criminal laws against non-Indians within pueblo boundaries.
Garcia said the pueblo and the county had been negotiating an agreement but it wasn't signed.
Garcia said he also was concerned about issues raised by non-pueblo Pojoaque Valley residents who complained they were harassed by tribal police.
Pojoaque Gov. George Rivera tells the Santa Fe New Mexican he wants the county to cover more but not all liability.
He also says he'll be pleased if more deputies are assigned to cover the pueblo.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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