The Hoh Tribe is starting its own tribal police department, and the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners approved a cooperative agreement between the Tribe and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

Under the new interlocal agreement, the sheriff’s office will provide mutual law enforcement assistance and officers in both departments will be “cross deputized.”

The county, sheriff’s office and Hoh Tribe have previously worked under an agreement where the sheriff would provide law enforcement services to the Tribe, but the county would be reimbursed for the work.

The new agreement sets out the process where the Hoh Tribal Police Chief can grant special commissions to members of the sheriff’s office, and the sheriff’s office may likewise commission members of the Tribe’s department.

To be commissioned as law enforcement officers, all personnel must meet the training standards set by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission, according to the agreement.

“I think that’s a good arrangement and an important one,” County Administrator Philip Morley said during Monday’s meeting of the board of county commissioners.

“I just want to applaud the Hoh Tribe for standing up their own law enforcement agency,” added Commissioner Greg Brotherton before the agreement was unanimously approved as part of the commission’s consent agenda Monday. “And I’m looking forward to the cooperation.”