Attorney General Eric Holder Recognizes South Dakota Prosecutor For Outstanding Performance In Indian Country

Gregg Peterman, Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of South Dakota, has received national recognition for his work in Indian Country.  Peterman was one of 154 members of the Department of Justice (DOJ) who were recognized by Attorney General Eric Holder and Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA) Director H. Marshall Jarrett. 

Peterman was honored with a 2013 Director’s Award for Outstanding Performance in Indian Country, one of the highest awards that can be bestowed upon an Assistant U.S. Attorney. 

In a letter to Peterman, Attorney General Holder said the following:  “In your 17 years of service to support Indian Country, your passion and energy as  a prosecutor have made these communities better and safer places to live.  You have accomplished this through handling some of the district’s most difficult cases ranging from violent homicides to child sexual abuse cases; through your involvement with working groups and committees; and by training law enforcement agencies on Indian Country issues.  You have demonstrated the best of public service and deserve recognition for your commitment to justice.”

Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Peterman joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota in 1995.  Shortly after joining the office, he showed an interest in working on Indian Country issues, and quickly displayed a passion and energy focused on these cases.  Over the years he has handled some of the District’s toughest Indian Country matters, ranging from violent homicides to heart wrenching child sexual abuse cases.  He has been involved in numerous national Indian Country working groups and committees, including The Attorney General’s Task Force on Domestic Violence in Indian Country.  Peterman is a frequent lecturer on Indian Country issues at the DOJ training center in South Carolina and has provided law enforcement training to hundreds of Indian Country officers.  He has co-authored two Indian Country articles for USA Book.

“Gregg Peterman has dedicated over 17 years of his career fighting to deliver justice for victims in Indian Country,” said Brendan Johnson, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota. “Gregg’s compassion, coupled with his tenacity, knowledge, and familiarity with Indian Country, makes him an ideal choice for the Director’s Award.  His talent and expertise are valuable tools as we continue our efforts to improve public safety on reservations, and help make the communities safer places to live, work, play, and raise a family.”

Peterman has served as a pathfinder for the nation by leading the first community prosecution project on the Pine Ridge Reservation that was implemented in 2010.  Peterman embraced the challenge to have a stronger presence on the reservation, and he successfully created and strengthened relationships by getting out in the communities, working on cases with law enforcement, talking to victims, and steering investigations.  The pilot program has proven to be successful in a number of areas and criminal prosecutions have increased.

“Each day the members of the U.S. Attorneys’ community go to work for the citizens of this country with one goal in mind – to do everything they can to protect the rights of all Americans,” said EOUSA Director Jarrett.  “I am continually humbled by their resiliency, dedication, and unparalleled work ethic to accomplish this noble mission. Today’s awardees exemplify what it truly means to be a patriot and it is an honor to recognize them for their extraordinary service.”

Peterman was named the Supervisor of the U.S. Attorney’s Rapid City office in early 2012.  U.S. Attorney Johnson honored Peterman with the Director’s Award on August 5, 2013.