Rocky Boy fires police chief after five-month suspension

Allen Primeau, chief of police on Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation who has been on suspension since May, has been fired.

Primeau said he was relieved of his position Friday morning by the tribe.

Primeau said he was told the tribe had evidence against him but did not give him a reason for his termination.

Chippewa Cree Tribal Judge Melody Whitford said he had been fired.

LeAnn Montes, attorney for the Chippewa Cree tribe referred questions about Primeau’s termination to Chippewa Cree Business Committee member Dustin Whitford, chair of the tribe’s law and order committee, which has authority over the police department.

Whitford could not immediately be reached for a response but later confirmed that a majority on the law and order committee voted to move forward with termination.

He declined to give any further details because doing so could violate the privacy of others involved.

Whitford also said Judge Melody Whitford was not in the room when the committee fired Primeau and she had no authority to speak on the matter.

Primeau, a member of the Paiute Tribe and a 15 year military veteran with background in law enforcement, was sworn in as the department’s police chief in December.

Primeau was suspended in May without pay.

A letter dated May 27 signed by Whitford to Primeau announcing the suspension, said that he was being suspended without pay after the tribe was notified of several claims alleging him of misconduct. The letter said the tribe had retained a third party to conduct an investigation of misconduct.

Primeau has denied any wrongdoing.