Who were referred to as the "police of the Indians" during conflicts?

The term "police of the Indians" refers to the Dog Soldiers, who were a prominent warrior society within the Southern Cheyenne tribe. During conflicts, particularly in the context of the Indian Wars in the late 19th century, Dog Soldiers took on the role of enforcers and protectors of their communities, often engaging in battles against encroaching settlers and military forces. They also undertook policing functions within their own society, maintaining order and discipline among their people.

Cavalry units, while involved in conflicts with Native American tribes, were part of the U.S. Army and not specifically tasked with policing indigenous populations in this manner. Indian Agents were government officials responsible for managing relations with Native American tribes but did not serve as enforcers in the same sense as the Dog Soldiers. Mountain men were explorers and fur trappers who operated in the western United States, and while they interacted with Native Americans, they did not fulfill a policing role. Thus, Dog Soldiers are correctly identified as the "police of the Indians" in the context of this question.