Tribal Casino Police in Washington Asking For More Jurisdiction
Tribal police are looked at in some ways the same way people view security guards. They carry guns and try to intimidate, but nobody is really scared of them. That may soon change in the state of Washington.
A Bill is being considered that would allow for tribal police to have jurisdiction on their land over non tribal members. The police on the land feel that it is a change that should have been made a long time ago. The new Bill would also apply to the tribe's casino on the land.
"Our hands are tied. Why can't we be on the same playing field and enforce the law equally," said tribal Police Chief Scott Smith. The chief wants to be able to police their own area without having to call on the help of local law officials.
The Bill has been met with some opposition. Local officers worry that they will not be able to oversee everything that goes on in their area. "What we're concerned about as Sheriffs is not having a local say in what's going on in our county," said County Sheriff Ken Irwin.
There has been a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the issue back in 1978 that claims tribal police cannot arrest non tribal members on tribal land. That ruling, however, has nothing to do with the new Bill proposal, according to John McCoy, who is sponsoring the new Bill.
He says the new Bill would not interfere with that ruling because under the Bill, police officers on the tribal land would have to undergo the same training and meet all of the standards that other officers in the state currently are held to.
