OPINION: Listening in Lewiston

Whether you’re browsing the shelves of a bookstore or scrolling through popular podcasts, you will have no trouble finding any number of guides for listening better. They teach that listening is an art, listening is a science, and listening is a super-power. The proliferation of these titles reflects a collective understanding that true engagement through listening is incredibly important and yet something that we often fail to achieve.   

So, when I observed a master class in listening last month, I decided it was worth sharing publicly. The Nez Perce Tribe graciously hosted my office and federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement for a full-day workshop in Lewiston. Over 100 law enforcement professionals representing 13 Idaho law enforcement agencies participated, including our partners in Clearwater, Idaho, Lewis and Nez Perce counties. We were also joined by federal, state and tribal judges, as well as defense attorneys. 

The genesis of the workshop was the desire to discuss the intersection of federal, state and tribal jurisdiction in criminal cases on the Nez Perce Reservation. We certainly did that. But the day turned into something more. 

Tribal and non-tribal police chiefs and sheriffs discussed their partnerships across the relevant counties and territories (the Nez Perce Reservation contains parts of Clearwater, Idaho, Lewis and Nez Perce counties). They explained how law enforcement officers communicate well, back each other up on calls for service and collaborate to ensure that justice is done when a crime is uncovered. The Nez Perce Tribe’s attorneys, law enforcement officers and professional staff also shared elements of the Tribe’s history, heritage and practices, inviting non-tribal members like myself to learn more about the Nez Perce’s vibrant culture and to appreciate new reference points for working with tribal members. 

With the large group and the decades of different experiences represented in the room, the event brought together a diversity of views on the best methods to promote public safety on the Nez Perce Reservation and in the surrounding counties. But the attendees — tribal members and non-tribal law enforcement alike — listened attentively to perspectives different from their own and showed curiosity on topics about which they were not familiar.  

There is more work to do and there are more conversations to have about policing across overlapping jurisdictions. And that is exactly what we’ll continue to do. Tribal law enforcement, sheriffs, and elected prosecuting attorneys expressed a desire for fresh conversations and a belief that there is opportunity for greater collaboration and growth of the relationships in the region.  

I was honored to be a part of an event in which our partners demonstrated this type of engagement with each other. This spirit of mutual respect and understanding is exceptional and worth celebrating. I want to thank the Nez Perce Tribe — a sovereign nation with defined rights in relation to the federal and state governments — for inviting us in. And I want to thank our law enforcement partners throughout Idaho for devoting their time and resources to this effort. I am grateful for the commitment shown that day by every single one of the attendees. The citizens of Idaho and of the Nez Perce and other tribal nations should be proud to know that their law enforcement leaders not only seek out collaboration, but also recognize that truly listening to each other is the first step to building successful partnerships. We can all learn from that example.

Josh Hurwit is the United States Attorney for the District of Idaho.