By Shaun Scott, Puyallup Tribal News
The Puyallup Tribal Police Department unveiled its new mascot on June 29 as Officer stiqayuʔ was in perpetual motion, delivering high fives and posing for pictures with the Tribal community at the Safe Summer Kickoff event at Firecracker Alley.
Sweltering summer temperatures didn’t stop Officer stiqayuʔ from making his inaugural appearance in front of the masses. The Tribal Police Department also had a booth where officers talked with the public and handed out police gear souvenirs.
Puyallup Tribal Police Department Records Manager Sherry James said they began collaborating with the Language Department in summer 2024 to develop a character that could help strengthen the relationship between kids in the community and the police department.
“We met with the Language Department and we decided to go with a timber wolf. The name we came up with is stiqayuʔ, which is ‘wolf’ in the Lushootseed language,” James said. “The wolf represents family and community being united together.”
Puyallup Tribal Police Chief Joe Duenas credited his officers, James and the Tribe’s Language Department for making Officer stiqayuʔ a reality.
“We had Sherry and the team of young officers who were willing to do it. I know they met and talked about what they wanted to do. They had my full support on moving forward with the project. It was a full team effort,” Duenas said. “The Language Department obviously helped on several different occasions. They are always more than willing and helping in any way they can for us.”
James said the relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve has been strained nationwide in recent years. She said she believes the arrival of stiqayuʔ can help bridge that gap locally in a positive manner.
“We are the Puyallup Tribal Police Department and we are here for the Puyallup Tribe. Most of us were raised in this community or around the community,” James said. “We’re here for you. We’re one of you. We’re here for the safety of the community. If your kid is in trouble, we want them to be able to reach out to a cop. They need to feel that if they go to a cop that the cop is going to take care of them.”
Duenas said the department is striving to build great relationships with Tribal Members.
“There is a perception, maybe, that we don’t care about the community, but, obviously, every single one of our men and women that serve in the police department do care greatly about our community. We chose to serve the community because that’s what we want to do,” Duenas said. “We want to continue to foster that positive relationship and do things where we are seen as part of the community and not a separate portion of the community.”
Puyallup Tribal Police Officer Jessica Ramirez said the department is focused on connecting with Tribal Members and finding out what their needs are.
“I think the best way to do that is to be able to get it straight from the source: the community itself,” she said.
Fellow Puyallup Tribal Police Officer Zack Young said community involvement is the No. 1 step to gaining and building trust.
“We’re all about community policing at the Puyallup Tribal Police Department. It really is a testament to all of our efforts to stay engaged with the community and give back to the community that we’re sworn to protect and serve,” Young said. “It’s been a good turnout and stiqayuʔ is doing a great job of connecting with the community. At the end of the day, we’re here to have some fun. It is great to see Tribal Members out here engaging with not only the police officers, but engaging with stiqayuʔ, too.”
