Supporting Local Law Enforcement
By Rep. Kristi Noem
Like many South Dakotans, I’m used to walking around town and seeing our local police officers working hard and keeping us safe. With National Police Week starting on Sunday, I’d like to take this time to say thank you to all of the men and women who serve in our state and across the country. I also want to help provide them with the necessary tools needed to combat the dangerous issues they face on a daily basis.
I recently visited the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, where I toured the jail and participated in a ride-along with deputies in order to see the challenges they face firsthand. Sheriff Mike Milstead and I spoke at length about the issues his deputies’ face and the ways I can be of assistance.
The rate of violent crime in South Dakota has nearly doubled over the last 10 years. According to Sheriff Milstead, Minnehaha County alone has seen a 17% increase in violent crime this year as opposed to the same time last year. Every week, newspapers across the state report on drug busts, violent crimes, and an influx of gangs. These aren’t just stories. According to local law enforcement, a high percentage of violent crime cases involve drugs. In order to better assist our law enforcement at home, I’ve asked the Department of Justice to step up its efforts to combat drug trafficking in our state.
In South Dakota people are getting addicted to drugs being channeled into our country illegally, such as meth and heroin. Sheriff Milstead informed me that he believes more than 90% of the meth and heroin comes from south of the border. It is critical for the federal government to support the efforts of our local law enforcement by halting the flow of drugs across our border.
I am proud to cosponsor several pieces of legislation to help address this acute need. The SMART Act authorizes the deployment of up to 10,000 more National Guard personnel and a number of new technologies to secure the border.
Another bill I support helps us catch up with drug traffickers’ tactics. Many times, drug traffickers utilize “spotters” while they cross the U.S.-Mexico border. These people help them avoid law enforcement. Under current law, spotting is not actually a criminal offense. The bill, called the “Transnational Criminal Organization Illicit Spotter Prevention and Elimination Act,” would change that.
These bills will help us protect our border and in doing so, will provide assistance to our local law enforcement as they fight against drugs and violent crime in South Dakota. We must realize that attacking the problem at the source is the best way to solve it.
Our local law enforcement are an integral part of the fabric of our community. They are our neighbors, our friends, and even our family. We owe them our unwavering support. This week, as we celebrate their service to our communities, state and nation, I hope you’ll thank one of your local men or women in uniform for what they do every day.
Is she blaming Jackley? It will be interesting if she peels off some of his law enforcement support.
The biggest threat to Jackley is that there of the four candidates for AG want SB 70 gone. I don’t know about McGuigan. Going to be interesting to see where Marty stands.
I didn’t see Jackley mentioned in the article at all.
She supports law enforcement, that will be refreshing…what did Jackley do to fight SB 70… ZERO ZILCH NADA …he fell in line like a follower not a leader.
I think you typo’d but if you said 3 of the 4 want SB 70 gone, good…I will take a look at them. McGuigan is out for me if he supports it. Not that i have found him overly inspiring anyway.
Pretty sick to see Noem politicize crime and law enforcement. Other than photo ops and press releases- what has she really done to fight crime over her past decade while she has been in office?
How about fighting human trafficking
You mean her legislation to review human trafficking? Seriously? I saw lots of press releases and grandstanding about it- but what did it actually do?
You cannot blame Jackley for SB 70. That was all Chief Justice Gilbertson, Jim Seward, Paul Bachand, and Governor Daugaard; oh, and the legislature. Here is the problem: SB 70 is the rankest piece of trash to come out of Pierre in modern history, or put another way, it is an attempt by the State to bypass incarcerating meth addicts by shoving sentencing back on County jails. At the end of the day the State balances its budget, Counties are forced to build more jail cells, meth addicts and criminals get to go free (presumptive probation and no consequence for violating drug patches) and society suffers. Yes, a flood is coming, but the Governor did us a solid by tearing down the levees. Hope you all have enough sand bags.
False. Jackley publicly supported SB 70. He fell in line like all the others. He’s stuck with it, and it’s going to hurt him.
The only candidate to speak against SB 70 is Fitzgerald. I heard it in a speech at the LDD in Rapid City.
Jackley and Mcguigan supportedSB 70.
“more than 90% of meth and heroin comes from south of the border.” Here’s a suggestion to help stop drug and human trafficking: Build the Wall, Build the Wall!!
SB 70 is garbage, but spending 30k/year to house a meth user in prison is worse.
The knives are out for Jackley because Noem realizes she miscalculated Jackley’s strength as a candidate. Her advisors told her it would be a cakewalk and they were severely off.
You’re clueless.
It’s going to be a great race for governor. I leaning towards Jackley, but we’ll see.