An Auburn Police officer will soon provide full-time police services to the Muckleshoot Tribe on reservation property within city limits.

That according to the proposed contract between the City of Auburn and the Muckleshoot Tribe.

“We’ve been working on this for a year and a half, two years,” said Auburn Police Chief Bob Lee. “We’re very excited about it, the Tribe is very excited about it, King County is very excited about it.”

When the Tribe picks up the officer’s salary, it will free up funds for the City of Auburn to hire another full-time officer, as the soon-to-be opened position is already paid for.

City Finance Director Shelly Coleman said the officer to be hired by the Auburn PD would be inserted into the City’s next budget amendment.

According to the proposed contract, costs for subsequent years shall be determined at the time the agreement is extended, which is once a year for the next five years.

Lee said the City doesn’t know at the moment what the cost of the labor agreements will be.

“I don’t think we have all that information. It’s much like King County’s agreement with the Tribe, The tribe understands that whatever collective bargaining agreements are made will change the contracts over the years.”

Until now, the Muckleshoot Police Department has been composed of the Tribe and the King County Sheriff’s Department.