USA Today reports that the federal government is about to pull the plug on a program that provides Internet and e-mail service for thousands of police officers in tribal and other rural police departments. Police need Internet access for various functions, including criminal investigations. Comanche Police Chief Vernon Griffin told the paper that they use the service to solicit help for basic operations and to respond to officer fatalities. Some tribes have no alternative Internet connection.
The program, known as the Tribal Rural Law Enforcement Internet Project, has operated in some form since 1995. It is based at the National Center for Rural Law Enforcement at the University of Arkansas. Program manager Jimmy Nobles says members are "beside themselves" at the prospect of losing it. Read more about it here.
Once again the Federal goverment thinks they know best for folks. In an area where communication is so important for covering huge areas, they want to slow down those communications. This is a serious loss and should be reconsidered as a very necessary function and tool for the tribal police.
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