Page 4 - Chehalis Tribal Newsletter - May, 2018

4

Police department grows its ranks

Officer Gary Ortivez III looks
forward to many years of service

By Frazier Myer, Chehalis tribal member
Chehalis tribal member Gary Ortivez
III, 21, was sworn in as an officer for the
Chehalis Tribal Police Department on
April 24.
Ortivez attended the Indian Police
Academy in Artesia, New Mexico,
where he went through extensive law
enforcement training. Out of the 48
students who started the class, only 38
endured the entire 13 weeks to graduate.
He said along with weeks of push-ups,
he had four written exams, driving exams
and firearm and Taser training.
Bridging the gap

Chehalis Tribal Lt. Arick Burnett had
the honor of swearing in Officer Ortivez.
He said he takes great pride in having
the privilege of bringing a fellow tribal Chehalis Tribal Lt. Arick Burnett and Officer Gary Ortivez III celebrate after Gary takes the
member onto the force. oath of office. Officer Ortivez recently completed an intensive training program.
Although Burnett is a tribal member,
he did not grow up on the reservation
like Ortivez. Burnett recognizes the him in many ways. Ortivez said it showed
significance of welcoming a person raised ‘Gary has become a huge step him, “there is a lot more out there than just
on the reservation who is a positive role our reservation.”
model to help bridge the gap between law in gaining us community support His biggest takeaway was to not take
enforcement and the community. and acceptance.’ anything for granted. “Not every call is
“Gary has become a huge step in going to be the same,” Ortivez said.
gaining us community support and – ARICK BURNETT, CHEHALIS TRIBAL LIEUTENANT An exciting role
acceptance,” Burnett said.
The department hopes that having a Every morning, they would have room Now that he’s back home and officially
well-known figure will draw more tribal inspection and chow then head to class. sworn in, he will begin 10 weeks of field
members to public safety. “Most of the time, I was doing push- training with the Chehalis Tribal Police
Ortivez looks forward to setting a good ups,” Ortivez said. “Whether or not your Department. Following that, he will start
example for our youth and embracing the room was clean or dirty, you’re doing six weeks of procedures and training to
opportunity to get involved and serve the push-ups.” become a conservation officer.
community. Being far away from home surrounded Burnett explained that the training
Training to join the team by a group of people from around the isn’t consecutive, so it will take up to six
months for him to officially complete it.
country was an eye-opening experience.
His journey began when Chief of Previously, he didn’t think about how Ortivez is looking forward to his role in
Police Ralph Wyman recruited Ortivez crimes on other reservations compare to the Fish & Wildlife program.
in August of 2016. He said he instantly those in his region and the different types “I’m just trying to do the best for me,
felt it would be a great group of people of issues departments encounter on a the tribe and our department,” Ortivez
to work alongside. In between that time daily basis. said.
and when he left for the police academy, His time at the academy helped shape Congratulations Officer Ortivez!
Ortivez passed multiple exams, took part
in hours of ride-alongs and fieldwork
and familiarized himself with the
department’s policies and codes. FIREWORKS LOANS
Gaining admission to the academy
is an extensive process with paperwork Apply by noon June 15 * Changes this year
and waiting for an opening. Ortivez was in application process
fortunate when a spot opened up earlier REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE and interest rates
than expected. Burnett and the rest of n Working email address CONTACT: Diana
the department felt he was ready for the n Completed online application Pickernell at 360-709-
challenge. n Receipt of stand owner’s permit
Ortivez said the police academy was 1631 or dpickernell@
different from what he thought it would n Location of fireworks stand chehalistribe.org
be – not better or worse, just different.