Washington's Fired Officers Often Find New Roles in Tribal Police Departments
In Washington, a significant number of police officers who have been fired from their positions are finding new employment in tribal police departments. This trend is highlighted by the case of Robert Lee Anderson III, who was hired by the Lummi Nation Police Department after being dismissed from the Western Washington University Police Department for misconduct. Despite being fired for striking a handcuffed man, Anderson's certification remained active due to a backlog in investigations by the state's Criminal Justice Training Commission. This situation is not unique, as tribal police departments, which make up a small fraction of the state's law enforcement workforce, disproportionately hire officers who have been terminated elsewhere. The issue is compounded by the state's failure to promptly decertify officers accused of misconduct, allowing them to continue working in law enforcement. 
