09/04/2026
A MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF OF POLICE
As students return to school, the Menominee Tribal Police Department is increasing its patrol presence around school areas during student arrival and dismissal times.
I want to make our expectations clear to everyone who drives through our community:
If you speed through a school zone, you should expect to be stopped and cited.
Our officers will be placing a significant emphasis on identifying and addressing speeding and other dangerous driving behaviors that put our children, school staff, parents, and other members of the community at risk.
This enforcement effort is not about writing tickets for the sake of writing tickets. It is about protecting our children.
When a driver speeds through a school zone, they are making a choice that can have serious consequences. Children do not always recognize the danger of an approaching vehicle, and drivers must be prepared for children to cross unexpectedly, buses to stop, and traffic patterns to change.
As Chief of Police, I expect our officers to take school-zone safety seriously, and I expect motorists to do the same.
SPEEDING WILL BE ENFORCED
Drivers should not expect a warning simply because they are only traveling a few miles per hour over the posted speed limit.
If an officer observes a violation, enforcement action will be taken when appropriate.
Being late is not an excuse.
Being in a hurry is not an excuse.
And the presence or absence of a police vehicle is not an excuse to disregard the speed limit.
Slow down before you enter the school zone—not after you see an officer.
TRIBAL AND COUNTY JURISDICTION
The Menominee Tribal Police Department recognizes that law-enforcement jurisdiction can differ depending on whether an individual is a Native American person or a non-Native American person, as well as the circumstances and location of an incident.
Our officers will enforce the law within the authority granted to the Menominee Tribal Police Department.
When officers encounter a speeding violation involving an individual who falls outside the Department’s enforcement authority, we will make every effort to ensure the violation is referred to the appropriate law-enforcement agency, including the County Sheriff’s Office, for enforcement consideration.
We will also continue to work closely with the County Sheriff’s Office and our other law-enforcement partners to address dangerous driving and maintain a safe environment around our schools.
Jurisdiction should never be mistaken for a lack of accountability.
If you are speeding through a school zone, the fact that a particular officer or agency may not have enforcement authority over you does not mean the violation will simply be ignored.
A DIRECT MESSAGE TO MOTORISTS
If you are driving through a school zone, I am asking you to slow down, put your phone away, pay attention, and understand that children are depending on you to make responsible decisions behind the wheel.
Our officers will be visible.
Our officers will be watching for speeding.
And citations will be issued when violations are observed and enforcement authority exists.
If the violation involves an individual outside of our jurisdiction, we will strongly encourage and request the appropriate agency to take enforcement action.
My responsibility as Chief of Police is to protect the community, and protecting our children is one of the most important responsibilities we have.
I would rather have a driver arrive at their destination five minutes late than have to notify a parent that their child has been struck by a vehicle.
There is no appointment, meeting, errand, or destination important enough to justify putting a child’s life at risk.
Slow down. Pay attention. Obey the speed limit.
Our children deserve nothing less.
SLOW DOWN OR EXPECT A CITATION
Vincent Grignon, Jr.
Chief of Police
Menominee Tribal Police Department
