PIERRE, S.D. (MITCHELLNOW) South Dakota will now offer a summer police certification course that gives tribal recruits first priority. Division of Criminal Investigation Director Dan Satterlee told lawmakers at the State-Tribal Affairs Committee in Mobridge, Walworth County, that the 13-week class helps tribal officers train closer to home while building relationships with state and local counterparts. Nine tribal officers are enrolled this year, but the Pierre academy can take up to 48. Lawmakers also voted to draft a bill recognizing tribal officers under state law, ensuring they receive the same protections as other law enforcement. A federal tribal police academy in South Dakota is also being considered. For more Government stories from MitchellNow.com, Click Here.