Violence remains a concern for Gila River Indian Community a year after officer’s death

Gila River Police Department Officer Joshua Briese, 23, was killed in the line of duty, responding to a disturbance at a Santan home on June 1, 2024. The rookie, still in field training, was fatally shot while another officer was wounded.

They were met with gunfire upon arriving at the scene – where four others within a large crowd during a dance were struck by bullets – including 23-year-old Alicen Apkaw, who also died from the incident.

In the year since, the Gila River Indian Community has seen more violence across the nearly 600-square-mile reservation, prompting tribal leadership to recently seek out additional help to address the growing problem.

While Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis insists the tribe’s police department is staying on top of cases and looking at root causes, reaching out to the FBI is mainly about “bringing all available resources to bear.”

Tribal Natural Resources

‘We’re done, we want to see change': Protest targets growing Gila River Indian Community violence

Gabriel Pietrorazio

Growing violence in the Gila River Indian Community drew hundreds to protest there over the weekend. Organizers claim there are at least 140 unsolved crimes from across the nearly 600-square-mile reservation south of Phoenix.

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“I’ve been in touch with the FBI field office in Phoenix,” said Lewis in a video message posted last month on social media, “and the special agent in charge of Indian Country issues has committed to continue to work closely with GRPD and offer investigative support and to collaborate on those current cases.”

This relationship has existed for decades.

“We support Gila River almost every day,” said Kevin Smith, a public affairs officer with the FBI Phoenix Field Office. “Rapes, homicides, manslaughter, crimes against children, the major crimes, that’s the ones that we handle, and we work hand in glove with the tribal police.”

But concerns remain high among some tribal members who allege Lewis, his administration and the rest of council leadership aren’t doing enough to keep their community safe.

They cite a youth curfew meant to curb rising crime.

Lewis has extended his executive order twice since February – following a public safety emergency declaration – and it remains in effect until at least the end of June.