U.S. Senator John Barrasso will be chairing a congressional hearing on the Wind River Reservation at the end of March that will bring tribal officials and law enforcement together to testify on drugs use on the reservation and different methods to curb use.
The Wind River Reservation was one of four reservations chosen for a law enforcement surge pilot program in 2010 and 2012 to combat substance abuse and violent crime. Barrasso says the hearing was called to find out if it was the surge or some other factors that helped curb crime.
From a standpoint of violent crime the numbers are down, from the standpoint of homicides the numbers are significantly down
"From a standpoint of violent crime the numbers are down, from the standpoint of homicides the numbers are significantly down," says Barrasso. "All in this four year period and we want to see how much of that is related to the program that has been in place, what other factors have been incorporated into those successes and then how can we translate these successes to other reservations around the country."
The hearing will take place March 31st at the Wyoming Indian High School in Ethete.