 FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION |
| 3301 West Memorial Road • Oklahoma City, OK 73134 • 405-290-7770 • Fax: 405-290-3885 |
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IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: October 10, 2007
Contact: Gary Johnson, (405) 290-3678
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – Michael B. Ward, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Oklahoma, and Michael McCoy, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Indian Affairs in Oklahoma, announced a major enhancement to improve the reporting and investigation into crimes that occur on tribal land in Oklahoma.
Recent media reports have indicated a perception that crimes occurring on tribal land have been going unaddressed, or have not received the attention from law enforcement which it deserves. The reports also indicated confusion as to where victims or witnesses of crimes are to report them to law enforcement.
Oklahoma’s unique geographic dispersion of tribal land creates a potential for tribal crimes to go unreported due to confusion or lack of knowledge of where to report crimes. This new enhancement provides a simple, one step method of reporting major crimes that occur on any of the tribal land in Oklahoma.
To provide one place to report major crimes which have occurred on tribal land, a toll-free number, (877) 658-7423 (877-OK-TRIBE), has been established. This telephone number will be answered 24 hours per day by employees of the Oklahoma City Division of the FBI. To help alleviate confusion, callers can contact 1-877-OK-TRIBE in instances of serious crimes and be confident the matter is being referred to the proper authority, and will have the appropriate devotion of appropriate tribal, local and federal law enforcement.
Calls will be documented on a questionnaire and the matter will then be referred to the appropriate agencies with a record of the complaint and referral being maintained. As appropriate, federal resources will be available to assist in subsequent investigations.
This initiative is not intended to replace or circumvent direct calls to tribal and local law enforcement, nor is it a substitute for the emergency 911 system. Callers are encouraged to contact tribal and local law enforcement first and foremost to report crimes.
As part of this initiative, FBI management conducted personal visits with administrative leaders of each of the state’s 39 tribes, and personal visits with each of the tribal police chiefs for the state’s Indian tribes. Also, circulation of flyers and posters to publicize the toll-free will occur.
As mentioned by U.S. Attorney John C. Richter during today’s press conference, “For every crime committed in Indian Country, there is a law enforcement agency, a prosecutor’s office, and a court system with the authority and jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute that crime. Crimes should be immediately reported to law enforcement through 911 or other local emergency numbers. For anyone who may have been uncertain about whom to call when a crime occurs, he or she can now call this single number and get connected with the right law enforcement agency so that justice can be done.”
The FBI’s top priority cases related to crimes occurring on tribal land include homicide, child sexual abuse/child physical abuse, and felony assault (including adult rape). Other crimes may be worked by the FBI or they will be coordinated with the BIA and tribal law enforcement.
As SAC Ward said during today’s conference, “It is our hope that through this effort, there will be no serious crimes involving Native Americans that go unreported, that the alleged perception that crimes can be committed against tribal members with impunity is challenged, and confidence in law enforcement’s existing commitment to address such matters is more evident to the public.
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