The City of Pullman has announced that the police department will follow the law and cooperate with the federal authorities regarding deportations when the agency is asked to assist.
The city issued a press release Tuesday afternoon in response to the deportation efforts of President Donald Trump’s Administration. The statement reminds the public that Pullman Police Officers swear an oath to uphold the constitution of the United States, the constitution and criminal laws of the State of Washington and city ordinances. The releases states that the role of the Pullman PD is to cooperate with federal law enforcement if requested and the department “will cooperate when asked.” City officials say the Pullman PD remains focused on community policing and Washington state law that prohibits local law enforcement from detaining people for the sole purpose of investigating their immigration status. That law also bans local law enforcement from sharing non-criminal information with federal authorities regarding immigration status. The statement notes that the authority of local police officers is not political.