Swinomish police gain access to national crime databases

MOUNT VERNON, Wash. (AP) - The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community Police Department will soon have better access to national crime information.

The Skagit Valley Herald reports the department was recently selected as one of 25 tribal police departments nationwide to be added to the federal government’s Tribal Access Program.

Swinomish Police Chief Lou D’Amelio says access to the program will give the department the ability to check national databases and more easily register sex offenders, identify human remains and locate missing people.

In the past the tribe had to rely on local or state authorities for that information.

The program first became available to tribal departments in 2015, according to the U.S. Justice Department.

Officials say with the Swinomish’s acceptance into the program, nine tribes in Washington will have full or partial access to the program.

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Information from: Skagit Valley Herald, http://www.skagitvalleyherald.com