SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Gov. Kristi Noem's relationship with Native American tribes in South Dakota has been a long-standing controversy. A new person now holds the title of tribal law enforcement liaison in the Noem administration.
Algin Young of the Oglala Sioux Tribe is a graduate of the Federal Police Academy and has 20 years of law enforcement experience. Young served as chief of police for the Oglala Sioux Tribe from 2021 to 2024.
“We have a total of 60 sworn officers. The BIA is funding us for 33 uniformed officers, but we have a grant-funded highway safety, 638 program. There are also specialized areas such as criminal investigators, so if you include me, there will be about 60 people who take the oath,'' Young said in an interview in December 2023.
We spoke with Young in December about security on the Pine Ridge Reservation.
“We needed to change the way we do things, so we're using everyone's input a little bit at a time. “The areas that receive the majority of calls are saturated during high-crime times,” Young said. In 2023.
Now, with his new title and responsibilities, Young says he is passionate about improving law and order on the reservation.
The governor says his knowledge will help bring a new level of safety to the reservation.
