PORT ANGELES — Clallam County has formalized its agreement with the Jamestown S’Klallam tribe to provide an all-hours sheriff’s deputy to enforce tribal and state law.
Tribal Chairman Ron Allen, Clallam County Sheriff Benedict and Clallam County Commissioner Steve Tharinger held a commemorative ceremony Friday at the Clallam County Courthouse.
The three commissioners unanimously approved the interlocal agreement Tuesday.
Sheriff’s deputies will have tribal officers’ authority and operate as first responders for the Federal Bureau of Investigation in cases involving major crimes that occur on tribal land.
The tribe will pay the county $133,962 per year with federal dollars from the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Terms of the agreement are effective immediately.
The tribe has most of the same laws as the rest of the state, Benedict has said. Deputies may need to be trained on tribal fishing regulations, however.
The money the county receives from the tribe will be used to hire a new deputy to replace recently retired Sheriff’s Sgt. Monty Martin.
In addition to the 24-hour, seven-days-per-week coverage, the sheriff’s office will also assist tribal prosecutors in the investigation of violations against tribal law. Deputies will appear as witnesses at hearings, conduct investigations and provide arrest records.