The History of the Pokagon Tribal Police Department

The Pokagon Tribal Police Department was established in 2003 to provide direct law enforcement services to the tribal members and visitors in the ten county tribal geographic boundaries in Michigan and Indiana. The Tribal Police Department was established under the authority of the Sovereign status of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and are appointed as Tribal Police Officers by the Tribal Government, licensed under Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES), deputized by Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren Sheriff’s Offices as Sheriff Deputies and commissioned as federal officers by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The department is committed to community oriented policing practices. As such it incorporates the traditions and culture of the Pokagon Band into the daily operations whenever possible.

The department staff currently consists of 18 persons comprised of;  2 office personnel, 2 police recruits and 14 MCOLES and BIA certified Police Officers which include the Captain, and 3 Sergeants.