Law enforcement officers have joined the FBI's Mississippi Safe Trails Task Force (STTF) to address crime on the Choctaw Indian Reservation. Officers Robert York and Jakob Waiter from the Choctaw Police Department, along with Neshoba County Deputy Mark Flake, are the latest members of this task force.
Special Agent in Charge of the Jackson Mississippi Field Office, Robert A. Eikhoff, administered their oath and emphasized the collaborative nature of the STTF. He stated, "The implementation of the Mississippi Safe Trails Task Force ensures the FBI and partnering agencies work together to protect members of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and investigate criminal activity with a federal nexus in and around the Reservation Communities in Mississippi. The Task Force is dedicated in keeping our tribal communities safe by working alongside our partners, training together, and offering resources."
The FBI Safe Trails Task Force is an initiative aimed at combating violent crime and drug trafficking within Indian Country. It collaborates with various partners such as DEA, ATF, tribal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The STTF has been a crucial part of FBI partnerships in Indian Country for nearly three decades.
In December 2022, approval was granted to establish the Mississippi STTF at the Jackson field office. This task force includes officers from several departments: Leake County Sheriff's Department, City of Carthage Police Department, Jones County Sheriff's Department, as well as Choctaw Police Department and Neshoba County Sheriff’s Department.
U.S. Attorney Todd Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi highlighted efforts by stating, "The Department of Justice has been working hard to strengthen law enforcement cooperation with the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and other law enforcement partners in order to better address violent crime, the fentanyl crisis, and other public safety issues in Tribal communities."