Attorney General Jeff Sessions Recognizes South Dakota Prosecutor for Exceptional Service in Indian Country

Attorney General Jeff Sessions recognized 202 department employees for their distinguished public service today at the 65nd Annual Attorney General’s Awards Ceremony in Washington, DC.  Gregg Peterman, Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney for the District of South Dakota, received national recognition for his work in Indian Country.  Peterman was the recipient of the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service in Indian Country – Outstanding Dedication to Lowering Crime Rates in Indian Country.

The awards ceremony took place at Constitution Hall near the White House, before hundreds of Justice Department employees and other award recipients, as well as Attorney General Sessions, the Deputy Attorney General, the Director of the FBI, and numerous other federal law enforcement officials.  This annual ceremony recognizes individuals for their outstanding service and dedication to carrying out the missions of the Department of Justice. 

Peterman supervises six federal prosecutors in the Rapid City branch of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.  The office is responsible for general crimes prosecutions in western South Dakota, including violent crime on the Pine Ridge Reservation.  Under Peterman’s careful guidance, his talented team of prosecutors have persevered and achieved an appreciable increase in the number of defendants’ indicted year-upon-year out of the Rapid City office. 

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, as well as the Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime Working Group addressing Alcohol Facilitated Sexual Assault in Indian Country.  Peterman is a frequent lecturer on Indian Country issues at the Justice Department’s training center in South Carolina, and has provided law enforcement training to hundreds of Indian Country and other federal officers.  He has co-authored two Indian Country articles for a Justice Department publication.

“Every single day, the 115,000 men and women of the Department of Justice work to protect our national security against terrorist threats, defend the civil rights of all Americans, reduce violent crime in our communities, stop deadly drug dealers and their organizations, and strengthen the rule of law,” said Attorney General Sessions.  “This work benefits every American, and each Department of Justice employee plays a role that helps us accomplish our objectives.  Today, we take a moment to recognize those who have distinguished themselves by exemplary service to the Department.  Each one of these men and women—through their dedication and commitment—has made a difference. Meeting with them and their families today, I am more confident than ever that the Department—and the safety of the American people—are in good hands.”

“Gregg Peterman’s steadfast commitment and dedication to Indian Country over the past 22 years is unparalleled,” said Randy Seiler, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota.  “It is not an overstatement to say relations between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Oglala Sioux Tribe have never been stronger, more productive, and more respectful than they are right now.  That is a direct result of Gregg’s extraordinary efforts to build that relationship.  Gregg’s compassion, coupled with his tenacity, knowledge, and familiarity with Indian Country, makes him the model choice for the exceptional service award.  His prosecutorial skills and expertise continue to be valuable tools in our ongoing efforts to improve public safety on reservations.”

Peterman has served as a pathfinder for the nation by leading the first Community Prosecution Project on the Pine Ridge Reservation implemented in 2010.  Peterman embraced the challenge to establish a stronger presence on the reservation, and successfully created and strengthened relationships by setting up a satellite U.S. Attorney’s Office in Pine Ridge.  Since then, he has maintained regular, productive, and proactive interactions through an unmatched level of one-on-one engagement with tribal leaders, agencies, and law enforcement personnel in an effort to stem the incidence of crime on the reservation, bring justice to victims of such crime, and carry on the Department’s mission in Indian Country.