(KAIR)--A new method of training law enforcement in the investigation of missing and murdered indigenous persons in Kansas had been developed.  

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt Monday announced the new training, with a release from Schmidt’s office explaining it “was developed in accordance with the bipartisan passage of a House Bill during the 2021 legislative session.

The measure, which took legal effect July 1, of last year “authorized the attorney general’s office to coordinate training for law enforcement agencies throughout Kansas regarding missing or murdered indigenous persons.”  

The release notes that over the past year, Schmidt’s office worked with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center “on developing the new training that contains a historical context, definitions, statutes, tribal sovereignty and jurisdictional challenges, the potential nexus with human trafficking, the importance of federal, state, and local partnerships, and resources available to aid” such investigations.  

Schmidt said his office sought the assistance and input from officials from the four federally recognized Native American tribes in Kansas, as well as the Native American members of the Legislature who sponsored the bill.  

The new online training module was reviewed and officially launched on July 1, 2022, on the KLETC web portal for use by law enforcement personnel, social services advocates, educators and the public.  

The training course will be reviewed and updated by KLETC training developers based on feedback and notes received throughout the year.  

The next update will be released on July 1, 2023.