FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 22, 2017
MEDIA CONTACTS
Jared Touchin (928) 221-9253
Jolene Holgate (928) 380-4174
Crystalyne Curley (928) 286-7918
[email protected]
LawandOrderCommitteeadvocatesforstronger
federalcontractsforlawenforcementandcriminalinvestigations
WINDOWROCK–OnMonday,theLawandOrderCommitteereceivedareportfromtheNavajo
NationDivisionofPublicSafety,NavajoNationJudicialBranch,NavajoNationDepartmentof
Justice,NavajoNationOfficeofManagementandBudget,andtheBureauofIndianAffairOffice
ofJusticeServices,regardingthelawenforcementandcriminalinvestigationsP.L.93-638
contracts.Thecontractswillbesubjectforrenewalfortheupcomingfiscalyear2018.
LOCmemberCouncilDelegateKeeAllenBegay,Jr.(LowMountain,ManyFarms,Nazlini,
Tachee/BlueGap,Tselani/Cottonwood)statedthattheentitiesinvolvedneedtoupdatethe
contractstojustifythegrowingpublicsafetyneedsandserviceswithintheNavajoNation.
“Thelanguagewithinbothcontractsneedstobestrengthened.TheNationhastheobligationto
negotiatethetermsofthecontracts.Thedeadlinetomodifythecontractsisapproachingquickly
andwehavenotseenanyworkingdocumentsfromtheDivisionofPublicSafety.Thepurposeof
thechangesistopursuemorefundingforpublicsafetyservices.Thecurrentcontractisnot
strongenoughtojustifyourneeds,”statedDelegateBegay.
AccordingtoNNDOJattorneyMichelleBegay,thedeadlinetomodifytheNavajoNation’s
contractsisOct.1.
LOCchairCouncilDelegateEdmundYazzie(Churchrock,Iyanbito,MarianoLake,Pinedale,Smith
Lake,Thoreau)askedNNDPSforanupdateonthestatusofthecontractmodifications.
RoannaBennettwiththeBIA’sOfficeofJusticeServices,statedthattheyencouragedNNDPS
executivedirectorJesseDelmartosetameetingdateinthebeginningoftheyeartoreviewthe
contractmodifications.Drasticchangestothecontractwillrequireadditionaltimeforreview,but
wehavenotreceivedameetingdatefromNNDPS,addedBennett.
“Alotofresponsibilityweighsheavilyontheexecutivebranchtocompletetheseinitiativesand
wehavenotseenrecommendationsorinputsonupdatingthecontracts.TheNationshouldnot
settlefortheleastamountoffundingfromthefederalgovernment,”statedLOCmemberCouncil
DelegateOttoTso(TóNaneesDizi).
ThecommitteedirectedNNDPStoreportthecontractmodificationsintwomonthsandwork
adjacentlywithNNDOJandBIAOJSregardingthechanges.
“WestronglyurgeNNDPStobeginworkingonthecontractchanges.Withinthetwomonths,the
committeewillcontinuetoadvocateatthestateandfederallevelforpublicsafetyontheNation.
ThecommitteeplanstotestifytoCongressregardingthecriticalneedsofpublicsafety,”added
DelegateYazzie.
TheLawandOrderCommitteeapprovedthereportwitha4-0vote.
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