PAGE, Ariz. – Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren joined Page Mayor Bill Diak to sign a 10-year Mutual Aid Agreement that allows Navajo and Page police officers to work together in emergencies and for special events.
The agreement ensures the safety of Navajo police officers when there is minimal or no backup available when officers respond to remote locations on the Navajo Nation and during major incidents.
Similarly, Navajo police may be required to assist the Page Police Department for similar situations.
“At the end of the day, it’s about the hard work our police officers do on a day-to-day basis,” President Nygren said Friday at the Page City Council Chamber. “Our people have told me one of the hardest things in Navajo communities is getting public safety help when they need it. This actually helps our people.”
The agreement furthers President Nygren’s goal to improve public safety through cooperation and collaboration with other state, county and city law enforcement agencies, he said.
“Our common goal is to preserve and protect the peace within our communities,” the President said. “It is only right that we recognize and formalize that through a commitment to be there for each other when called upon or needed.”
Page Mayor Bill Diak said the agreement is especially helpful to improve cooperation for a city that is completely surrounded by other governments, whether it’s the Navajo Nation to the east and south or the federal government through the National Park Service to the west and north.
The Coconino County Sheriff’s Department has a presence in Page along with National Park Service Law Enforcement and Arizona Highway Patrol.
“We’re always striving to improve our relationships,” Mayor Diak said. “This today gives us that opportunity. It’s about building relationships and partnerships. We’re better together. We’re better when we’re helping one another.”
Michael Anderson, executive director of the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety, said it has been about four years since an agreement like this was in place.
“We’ve been able to put together something that will benefit not only the Navajo Nation and the community of LeChee but surrounding communities and the chapters of Bodaway-Gap, Bitter Springs, Tuba City, Coppermine, LeChee and Kaibeto,” he said.
Only one Navajo police officer is regularly available to patrol that area, he said.
“Number one are our boots on the ground,” Anderson said. “Our troops working this area are in a situation where we are in dire need of recruitment. So we’re looking for officers. We’re looking for an opportunity to better provide public safety services.”
He said Navajo DPS extends to seven different departments that include fire and emergency medical.
“Our hope is that we’ll have the ability to be able to work with not only the City of Page but the Coconino County Sheriff’s Department,” he said.
Navajo Nation Council Delegate Helena Nez-Begay, who represents LeChee, Coppermine, Kaibeto, Tonalea and Bodaway-Gap chapters, said as a graduate of Page High School she is familiar with the little city that borders Lake Powell, Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend. She said she see the agreement as a way to assist youth and elders.
President Nygren said the agreement provides stability to know the two governments and their police officers can call upon each other to help enforce the law in emergencies or as called upon by their respective police chiefs – Navajo Police Chief Darryl Noon and Page Police Chief Tim Lange.
“This is an important signal for our existing partners and those we hope to engage with in other areas,” he said. “This is necessary because positive collaboration and mutual aid is part of the future of public safety.”
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