– Press release from the Bishop Paiute Tribe
BISHOP, CA- February 12, 2015 – The Bishop Paiute Tribe would like to take this opportunity to state its support of Tribal Police Officer Daniel Johnson.
The Bishop Tribe has maintained a police department since 2009 and its mission is to ensure public safety to the reservation residents and visitors. The incident leading to Officer Johnson’s arrest occurred on December 24, 2014, after he responded to a tribal member’s call for protection in a disturbance by a non-Indian individual who is ordered by both the tribal and state courts to have no contact with the tribal member.
Officer Johnson was acting under tribal authority and was carrying out his duties as a Tribal Police Officer for the Bishop Paiute Tribe at the time of the incident. The Tribe wishes to thank Officer Johnson for his past and continued service to the Tribe and recognize his commitment to the safety and well-being of the Bishop Paiute Reservation and all of its residents.
The Tribe and the Tribal Police Department have worked earnestly in the past with the Sheriff’s Department to ensure the public safety on the Bishop Reservation. It is unfortunate and regrettable that the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office and District Attorney has taken the unprecedented actions against Officer Johnson and fails to recognize the inherent Tribal sovereignty of the Bishop Paiute Tribe (including the authority bestowed to our Tribal Police Department).
The Bishop Paiute Tribal Police Department continues its commitment to public safety and the protection of all citizens and residents of the Reservation and surrounding communities.
For more information please call the Bishop Tribal Office at (760) 873-3584 or go to www.bishoppaiutetribe.com.
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From Inyo County District Attorney Tom Hardy
Response to Bishop Paiute Tribe Press Release of February 17, 2015:
On or about January 5, 2015, the District Attorney filed a criminal complaint alleging three felony charges and one misdemeanor charge against Mr. Daniel Johnson. Specifically, he is charged with violating Penal Code section 244.5(b), assault with a stun gun; Penal Code section 236, false imprisonment; Penal Code section146a(b), falsely representing himself to be a public officer; and Penal Code section 242, simple battery.
The charges are based on allegations that Mr. Johnson used unlawful force on the person of another, and was the result of an investigation conducted by the Inyo County Sheriff’s Department.
The District Attorney’s office reviewed the investigation reports with the same degree of scrutiny that it would apply to any case submitted to it, and determined that sufficient legal cause existed to file the case and to proceed in court.
Mr. Johnson is, of course, presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Pursuant to an Act of Congress, State law enforcement authorities in the State of California are obligated to investigate and prosecute crimes alleged to have been committed on reservation lands in the state, including the Bishop Paiute Reservation.
The Inyo County District Attorney takes its obligation to provide criminal justice services to all citizens of Inyo County, including all tribal members and reservation residents, very seriously. As we all know from recent events around our nation, no one, including peace officers employed by federal, state, and local agencies, are immune from investigation and prosecution of alleged criminal acts.
The charges against Mr. Johnson will proceed in court and he will receive all of the protections accorded to anyone charged with a crime. Because of Congress’s grant of criminal jurisdiction to California state authorities, this case has nothing to do with tribal sovereignty. The District Attorney absolutely respects the sovereignty of the Bishop Paiute Tribe, and all of the federally-recognized tribes in our County.
The office will continue to work with all stake-holders to ensure equal access to justice for everyone in Inyo County.
Even if the original confrontation with the tribal member did not take place on tribal lands, it is easy to see why the tribal police and not the local sheriff was called. And the DA’s release makes it sound as if it were on tribal lands. And if they were… Read more »
Thanks DT, So as some have stated some real simple questions need to be answered. Was this incident on tribal lands Is the officer a native and does he belong to the tribe. And does it really matter. I can’t imagine that a tribe cannot hire a non native to… Read more »
Tribes have full authority over native Americans on tribal lands and states have no jurisdiction whatsoever to enforce any kind of laws against native Americans on tribal lands. USC 1152 grants the Federal Govt jurisdiction over non-Indians on indian lands. In general states are thought to retain authority over crimes… Read more »
DT,
You’ve got it just about completely wrong. The Sheriff has criminal authority over everyone on tribal lands. Only on the civil side is authority limited.
Tribal police can enforce tribal criminal law on tribal lands. They do not enforce California criminal law, that is up to outside law enforcement agencies to do. Tribal police operate under BIA auspicies and are sworn peace officers.
You are completely wrong!!!! The Federal Government passed a law known as PL 280 that gave “concurrent criminal” jurisdiction to California over crimes that occur on reservation land. The key word is “concurrent”; all tribes have an inherent right to police tribal lands. In PL 280 states the if the… Read more »
There has got to be way more to this story. Officer Dan Johnson is no rent a cop. Daniel Johnson is a 20 year veteran of law enforcement. Holds POST training certificates honored as police officer of the year by San Bernardino chamber of commerce. Served as tribal police officer… Read more »
Since tha Tribal Council now aproved medical marijuana growers, and commercial Hemp growing on the rez, the Tribal Police now have more responsibility to protect tribal members and their crops, God bless America ☺
This is SOOOOOOO incomplete…where’s the REST of the story ? Who and why did he use his taser, and aren’t peace officers able to do so in the course of their sworn duties ? What is this penal code section, falsely representing himself to a public officer ? Is he… Read more »
Sounds very strange to me. Is this guy really a police officer of the Paiute Tribe? As I understand it to be Yes.. Mayber this peace officer was not in a area under the jurisdiction of the Paiute . Maybe the suspect was fleeing , I would think that the… Read more »
As I sit here and watch the Westminster Dog Show … was just thinking … The two obits were people who have lived here for decades … I realize you’re meaning your remark in a larger sense, but it just seems mean. And, as for the Sierra Wave news crew,… Read more »
My comment was in no way meant to be mean. I have no idea what has been going on in the back office or understand the dynamic’s since Benett’s passing. The whole community is missing her including myself. I thought I asked a very reasonable question. I think as a… Read more »
MK- Your opinion is a little bit funny to me. I was thinking almost the complete opposite. To be far I had heard how sick Benett was almost a year ago. I’m actually surprised how good of job the small staff has been able to do considering what they have… Read more »