The Daily Herald of Everett reports:

Tulalip police officers who patrol the water off the coast of the Tulalip Indian Reservation and other areas where tribal members fish are now able to maneuver their vessels with expertise more common to the Coast Guard than that of a tribal government.

Four officers recently graduated from a two-month program through Zenith Maritime, a Coast Guard-certified agency that trains captains to expertly handle their boats.

“Most of the work they do involves being out on the water monitoring and protecting our treaty rights,” Tulalip Police Chief Scott Smith said. “They also engage in search and rescue operations with the Coast Guard.”