Federal government agencies have chosen Rapid City as one of seven locations where they will establish offices dedicated to solving cold cases involving missing and murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives.
The office will open next month (Aug. 4).
The first Missing and Murdered Native Americans Cold Case office opened today (July 27) in Bloomington, MN. The Cold Case Task Forces will be staffed with law enforcement personnel and newly appointed special agents from the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services, along with personnel from other Operation Lady Justice Task Force partners including tribal law enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Offices of the US Attorneys.
Along with Bloomington and Rapid City, Cold Case Task Force offices will be opened in Billings, MT; Nashville, TN; Albuquerque, NM; Phoenix, AZ; and Anchorage, AK.
A way for top federal officials to engage, coordinate and work with tribal governments on developing strategies to address the crisis, the Operation Lady Justice Task Force is working to collect and manage data across jurisdictions; establish protocols for new and unsolved cases; establish multi-jurisdictional cold case teams; improve the response to investigative challenges; and provide clarity on the roles, authorities and jurisdiction for those involved. It is also charged with providing a report to the President of its work and accomplishments in meeting the executive order’s mandate.
Schedule for Cold Case Task Force office openings:
- Bloomington, MN (July 27);
- Rapid City, SD (August 4);
- Billings, MT (August 6);
- Nashville, TN (August 12);
- Albuquerque, NM (August 18);
- Phoenix, AZ (August 20); and
- Anchorage, AK (August 27).
Feature photo: Participants hold up a hand made quilt during a Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women awareness event June 4, 2019, at the State Capitol in Pierre.
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