Navajo police argue for mobile command unit

By Kathy Helms
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — It is times like these — weather emergencies — when a heavy-duty mobile command unit looks pretty good to the Division of Public Safety.

During the last couple years there have been a number of weather-related disasters that have had major impacts on areas of the Navajo Nation — fires that scorched hundreds of acres in Kinlichee, Ganado and Navajo Mountain, torrential rains leading up to Operation Hashtl’ish (Mud), as well as a tornado that touched down in Tuba City.

It was no picnic for officers either, according to Lt. Dempsey Harvey of Shiprock Police District.

Navajo Nation Law Enforcement officers who were out in the trenches trying to secure scenes and ensure public safety ended up working out of police units and chapter houses because they did not have a command station available.

Harvey said that in 2001 there were 14 drownings in Tsaile Lake. Those were commanded out of a single police unit.

During the 2006 fires and the Tuba City tornado, “we ended up commandeering part of the chapter houses,” Harvey said.

When they were called out during frigid December temperatures to relocate the Dooda Desert Rock resisters and monitor their activities, that also was commanded from a single unit, as was a winter search-and-rescue operation in Red Valley.

“We do need a law enforcement command unit,” Harvey recently told the Budget and Finance Committee.

Pete Ken Atcitty of B&F told Harvey that his fellow committee members understand the need but question the priorities of the division and the Public Safety Committee.

“Going back and looking at requests that come before this committee for the division — manpower, overtime, funds for autopsies, new jails — where are the priorities?” he asked. “Yes, it’s beneficial, but in the long run, how does it benefit the division compared to overall needs?”

PSC’s Rex Lee Jim, sponsor of the legislation which now moves to Ethics & Rules Committee and Navajo Nation Council, said, “We do have a priority list and we are working on that. We are making some progress.”

But the efficiency of law enforcement’s manpower depends a lot on the equipment they have, he said. “If you have the right resources, it helps a lot in an emergency situation,” Jim said.

B&F’s Nelson Begaye said, “I would really like to get the president involved in this. It’s really a shame that we have to operate in this way.”

Chairman LoRenzo Bates told Jim and Harvey, “This is just another situation of Navajo not using their numbers to go after funding. You allow the state, the county to use Navajo statistics to go after money — (U.S. Highway) 491 is a perfect example. We are used, we’re not allowed to use,” Bates said.

The base price of the mobile command vehicle would be $538,561 delivered. In addition, Public Safety is seeking a roof-mounted light system at an additional $12,720. The unit would be purchased from MBF Industries Inc. of Sanford, Fla.

The command unit would be equipped with a broadband satellite system from TracStar Inc. of Orlando, Fla., is designed for rapid deployment and supports eight simultaneous voice-over IP calls and/or Fax with simultaneous high-speed Internet access.

“We’re on analog,” Lt. Harvey said. “We need digital.” He said the state is insisting on interoperability.