Rocky Boy fires police chief

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

Primeau said that he was told by the Chippewa Cree Business Committee Law and Order Committee, which has authority over Rocky Boy’s Police Department, that they had evidence against him but would not give him a reason for his termination.

Chippewa Cree Tribal Judge Melody Whitford said she received a call from Primeau telling her of his termination.

Dustin Whitford, who chairs the Law and Order Committee, later confirmed that a majority on the committee voted to move forward with termination.

Dustin Whitford also said Melody Whitford was not in the room when the committee fired him and had no authority to speak for the tribe on the matter.

Dustin Whitford did not provide any further details about the firing.  

Primeau, a member of the Paiute Tribe and 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, for which the tribe did not offer an explanation.

A letter dated May 27 and signed by Whitford to Primeau announcing the suspension, said he was being suspended without pay after the tribe was notified of several claims of alleged misconduct.

The letter said the tribe had retained a third party to conduct an investigation into the allegations.

Primeau has denied any wrongdoing.