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.”
“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.
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The official designation comes at a pivotal time when sustained drought threatens this precious natural resource — CRIT considers “a living entity” — running parallel to the nearly 300,000-acre reservation along the California border. -
Beyond the bickering Upper and Lower Basin states, there are 30 federally recognized tribes stuck in the middle of a decades-old debate on how best to divvy the water while keeping the ever-dwindling river flowing. -
Without reliable internet, it’s tough for veterans to apply for and access financial and health benefits, including mental care. But a Phoenix-based company and an Arizona state agency are partnering to help better equip those living on tribal lands. -
The Pentagon pointed KJZZ to Truth Social — adding nothing more at this time — when asked for more information about Trump’s post he made while overseas moments before meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. -
With only a dozen or so stores scattered throughout the Navajo Nation, buying groceries is already a daily struggle. But letting benefits lapse could make their dilemma much worse.
