MANDAN, ND (KFGO) - Morton County, ND Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier says officers used appropriate force Thursday while removing hundreds of Dakota Access pipeline protesters from private property.
Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Chairman David Archambault has recently been highly critical of the law enforcement tactics. Archambault wants the Justice Department to investigate. Kirchmeier disagrees that officers did anything improper.
“Law enforcement and everyone who was involved here did a very good job” Kirchmeier said. “They used very good restraint. They used only the force that was needed.”
Kirchmeier said officers have been specially training for the confrontation. “We just want to be as prepared as we can for everyone’s safety. I can’t stress that enough.”