Tribal Council balks at order to reinstate chief

Even though a review board has ordered fired Yakama Tribal Police Chief Davis Washines back to work, the Tribal Council refuses to give him his job back.

Now, Washines plans to take the matter before the entire tribal membership on Monday, when the tribe will continue its annual gathering to discuss major decisions.

Washines said he wasn't given a clear reason for his Feb. 21 firing, and subsequently appealed it.

Earlier this week, a tribal review board ordered him reinstated with back pay, citing that there was no valid reason for his firing.

Washines said he thought he would have returned to work by week's end, but instead he received a letter from the Tribal Council on Thursday saying he would not be getting his job back.

"This is the bombshell," he said, pointing to the letter.

Washines, a former Tribal Councilman, said hiring and firing duties belong to the tribe's administration office, which also signed off on his reinstatement.

But in the letter to Washines, the Tribal Council said it based its denial on a meeting with the tribe's administration office.

General Council Vice Chair-woman Mavis Kindess said she wasn't involved in the firing, but heard complaints from some tribal members that Washines' position wasn't advertised before he was hired.

But Washines showed the Herald-Republic copies of a job posting covering two months advertising the position just before his hiring.

Washines said the Tribal Council is ignoring the reinstatement and violating the tribe's laws regarding tribal employees and who has authority over them.

"This is a threat to our established policy," he said. "It's a threat to our established law."

Tribal Council Chairman Ralph Sampson Jr. didn't immediately return a phone call seeking comment Friday evening.

Washines also provided documents in which the Law and Order Committee of the Tribal Council approved making him an at-will employee the day before his firing.

His termination papers only described the reason for his firing as "other."

In tribal documents, the committee contends that Washine's appointment to police chief was never approved by the council.

But Washines displayed his police commission card which was signed by both present and former tribal leaders.

He guesses his firing is purely political.

"In order for any action to be taken against me, what are the charges?" he asked. "There are none."

* Phil Ferolito can be reached at 577-7749, or pferolito@yakimaherald.com.