Benewah County sheriff opposes cross-deputization

BOISE (AP) - A North Idaho human rights group says one of the region's county sheriffs is refusing to cooperate with the Coeur d'Alene Indian Tribe on law enforcement matters.

As a result, the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations Wednesday called for legislation to allow Idaho tribal police officers to arrest or cite non-tribal members violating state law on reservations.

According to the bill, suspects would be sent to state court.

Christie Wood, a task force leader, wrote in an open letter to Idaho lawmakers that Benewah County Sheriff Bob Kirts won't respond to calls by the tribe for help on reservation crimes and has refused to initiate a cross-deputization agreement with tribal police.

Without such an agreement, tribal police can't currently arrest non-tribal members on Indian territory.

Kirts didn't immediately return a phone call seeking comment.