Soboba Tribe to Hold Public Forum on Federal Policing Law

Tensions between Riverside County authorities and the Soboba Indian tribe are growing. Last week, the sheriff called on federal gaming officials to shut down the tribe's casino. Today, the Soboba tribe holds a forum on the federal law that sets the guidelines for policing the reservation. KPCC's Steven Cuevas says it's at the heart of the dispute.

Steven Cuevas: Congress passed Public Law 280 more than 50 years ago. It gives California and five other states law enforcement jurisdiction over Indian land. But it also leaves room for tribes to establish their own police forces with limited jurisdiction over Indian land and tribe members.

Tribes also retain their federal sovereign status. Soboba chairman Robert Salgado interprets that to mean that deputies must get permission to enter the reservation, unless there's an emergency.

Robert Salgado: I think they come in on pursuits and 911 calls, and we do have our security that we'll be beefing up, so...

Cuevas: Salgado believes deputies violated the tribe's civil rights when they killed two tribe members in an armed standoff on the reservation earlier this year. Sheriff's deputies and other first responders say they've been shot at while patrolling the reservation. Riverside County Sheriff Stan Sniff interprets Public Law 280 this way:

Stan Sniff: The authority for any police agency in California under Public Law 280 is to go where they need to go. Can we go onto the reservation? Follow up cases? Patrol it? Whatever you want to term that? Yes, we can.

Cuevas: The dispute is sure to carry over to the Soboba tribe's invitation-only forum later today, but it could be a little one-sided. Sheriff Stan Sniff and county leaders were invited to attend, but they've declined.