Robert J. "Bob" Troester U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma
The Justice Department announced a substantial initiative to address unresolved violent crimes in Indian Country, particularly concerning missing and murdered indigenous persons. The operation, named "Operation Not Forgotten," involves deploying 60 FBI personnel in rotating 90-day temporary duty assignments over six months, marking the most extensive national deployment of FBI resources aimed at Indian Country crime.
These FBI personnel will be stationed in field offices located in Albuquerque, Denver, Detroit, Jackson (Miss.), Minneapolis, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Portland (Oregon), Seattle, and Salt Lake City. They will work alongside the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Tribal law enforcement agencies, utilizing advanced forensic tools.
Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized, "Crime rates in American Indian and Alaska Native communities are unacceptably high. By surging FBI resources and collaborating closely with U.S. Attorneys and Tribal law enforcement to prosecute cases, the Department of Justice will help deliver the accountability that these communities deserve."
FBI Director Kash Patel stated that the operation would focus on pursuing violent criminals and locating missing individuals on tribal lands. United States Attorney Robert J. Troester remarked on the importance of these resources in seeking justice for crime victims and families in Indian Country.
Doug Goodwater, FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge, highlighted the ongoing collaboration with Tribal and local law enforcement to enhance public safety in tribal communities.
Indian Country deals with persistent crime levels, with the FBI's program managing approximately 4,300 open investigations, including various violent crime cases.
Operation Not Forgotten builds on efforts initiated under the Trump administration's Executive Order 13898, which established a task force for missing and murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives. In two years, the operation has supported investigations in over 500 cases, resulting in child recoveries, arrests, and indictments.
This initiative also extends the resources devoted in recent years to cases involving missing and murdered indigenous individuals and is supported by the Department's MMIP Regional Outreach Program.
