To: Sioux Falls Mayor Paul Tenhaken & City Council
Demand Answers About “Operation: Prairie Thunder"
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Preamble
We support effective public safety grounded in trust, transparency, and the rule of law. Because Prairie Thunder introduces new policing activities in and around Sioux Falls, we ask City leadership to adopt the following reasonable guardrails that protect our neighbors, our budget, and our constitutional rights while allowing lawful criminal investigations to proceed.
We support effective public safety grounded in trust, transparency, and the rule of law. Because Prairie Thunder introduces new policing activities in and around Sioux Falls, we ask City leadership to adopt the following reasonable guardrails that protect our neighbors, our budget, and our constitutional rights while allowing lawful criminal investigations to proceed.
Our Objectives
1. Publish the paperwork (within 30 days).
Post all memorandums of understanding (MOUs), operational policies, and clear exit criteria for any Prairie Thunder activity inside Sioux Falls city limits. If documents do not exist, confirm that in writing and provide a timeline for drafting and public release.
2. Data, not press conferences (start within 60 days).
Launch a monthly public dashboard of stops, searches, arrests, hand-offs to other agencies, and use-of-force broken out by location and outcome, with anti-profiling metrics (including perceived race/ethnicity where lawfully collected).
3. Judicial warrants only (effective immediately).
Adopt a written policy that City staff, facilities, and data will not be used for civil immigration enforcement without a judge-signed warrant or court order, while continuing to comply fully with lawful criminal investigations.
4. Protect community spaces (adopt within 30 days).
Designate schools, hospitals, places of worship, and courthouses as off-limits for civil immigration actions by City personnel, and communicate this policy in multiple languages.
5. Aerial & data safeguards (publish within 45 days).
Release written limits on aerial surveillance over neighborhoods and civic events, plus data-sharing “firewalls” and access-log procedures for any City systems potentially reachable by outside agencies.
6. Safe reporting for victims & witnesses (adopt within 30 days).
Affirm in writing that victims and witnesses will not be asked about immigration status, and expand/publicize U- and T-visa certification support.
7. Costs in the sunlight (before further expansions).
Disclose projected and actual City costs (including overtime, court burden, and potential liability) and require a public Council vote before any new commitments of City resources.
8. Independent, time-limited oversight (seat within 60 days).
Create a one-year community advisory group – including immigrant-led organizations – to review dashboard data, policies, and complaints, and to recommend adjustments and an off-ramp if goals aren’t met.
These objectives do not restrict lawful criminal investigations or compliance with court orders. They establish basic transparency, civil-rights protections, and prudent budgeting for City-involved activities.
Why is this important?
When policing expands without clear, public rules, trust erodes and everyone — residents, officers, and City Hall — takes on unnecessary risk. These guardrails are simple, lawful steps that keep Sioux Falls safe and accountable. They protect civil rights, focus resources where they work, and ensure our city remains welcoming and fair.
Add your name if you believe we should:
- Keep everyone safer with trust-based policing. Clear limits, data reporting, and safe-reporting policies help solve crimes by encouraging victims and witnesses to come forward.
- Protect constitutional rights and due process. Warrant requirements and transparent policies prevent mission creep and ensure any cooperation with outside agencies stays lawful and narrow.
- Spend tax dollars wisely. Public cost estimates and Council votes prevent blank checks and help prioritize what actually improves safety.
- Rely on facts, not headlines. A monthly public dashboard lets all of us judge outcomes — stops, searches, arrests, use-of-force — so policy follows evidence, not press events.
- Safeguard community spaces. Schools, hospitals, places of worship, and courthouses should remain accessible and welcoming for everyone.
- Reflect Sioux Falls values. We can have both effective public safety and dignity for our neighbors, including immigrant families.
Your signature tells City leadership to adopt these reasonable, time-bound steps now so investigations can proceed lawfully, budgets stay transparent, and our community stays strong. Please sign and share.
How it will be delivered
The petition will be delivered to the Sioux Falls City Council and Mayor during an upcoming City Council meeting.