PHOENIX, Ariz. — The Yuma Border Patrol Sector Tribal Liaison Team was among law enforcement agencies recognized by Indian Country Intelligence Network (ICIN), in an awards banquet earlier this week.
The annual awards banquet was held by ICIN, in association with the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, at the Heard Museum in Phoenix to recognize exceptional courage and resourcefulness demonstrated by law enforcement officers, civilian support staff, agencies, and departments. Award recipients exhibited, in the opinion of tribal officials, the highest tradition of law enforcement.
The ongoing efforts of the Yuma Sector Tribal Liaison Team was acknowledged in the Best Practices category. Yuma Sector constructed a communications bond with the Tribes within the sector’s area of responsibility; allowing for installation of tactical infrastructure on tribal lands. Efforts to impact the security of tribal lands included join training of tribal law enforcement officers with Yuma Border Patrol agents. Cocopah Chief of Police Stephen Johnson termed the Yuma Tribal Liaison Team’s purpose as being “a highly effective and focused effort to improve relations between federally recognized Native American Indian tribes and the U.S. Border Patrol.”
The list categories considered included:
- Act(s) of Exceptional Valor
- Outstanding Exceptional Service
- Life Saving
- Community Service
- Police Officer of the Year
- Best Practices
- Prosecutor Exceptional Effort
Officer Jair Cabrera, Salt River Police Department, and Officer Ernest Montoya, Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety, were honored during the ceremonies. The two men gave their lives in the line of duty, during the past year. A moment of silence was observed in remembrance of these two officers.