Swinomish Police Department
The Swinomish Police Department was created by the Swinomish Senate on January 7,1936. Swinomish officers now have general police authority pursuant to RCW 10.92.020. Swinomish officers reference state law when dealing with incidents of a criminal nature involving non-enrolled subjects, both within and outside the boundaries of the Swinomish Reservation.
The Swinomish Tribe is federally-recognized and excercises civil jurisdiction over both enrolled tribal members and non-enrolled subjects when contacted within the exterior boundaries of the reservation concerning alleged civil infractions.
In 2010, the Swinomish Police Department was the first tribal police department in the state of Washington to have met the requirements for accreditation by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.
Additionally, enrolled tribal members, while not subject to Washington state law, are subject to the law of the United States. Therefore, officers of the Swinomish Police Department follow both federal law and Swinomish Indian Tribal Community code when incidents involve potential violation(s) by enrolled members occurring within the exterior bounds of the Reservation.