Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank is standing his ground in a public dispute with county prosecutors over his declaration that his office will not hire noncitizens as deputies or corrections officers, a position that has put him at odds with county legal advisors, state law, and a Washington State Legislature that recently passed a bill broadening law enforcement hiring eligibility.
The dispute traces back to a January 20 post on Swank’s X account in which he stated the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office would not hire noncitizens. The post was written in response to Senate Bill 5068, which originally proposed extending eligibility for law enforcement hiring to anyone authorized to work in the United States under federal law. By the time the bill passed the state Legislature, amendments had removed police officers from its provisions.
Pierce County prosecutors sent Swank a legal memo on January 21, asking him to take down the post and issue a correction stating his office would consider all applicants who meet legal eligibility requirements. The memo warned that his statement maintains Pierce County’s official position, which contravenes state and local law, and that his actions may result in legal and financial liability to Pierce County.
Swank’s response was direct. “I don’t care what she says, I’m not taking it down,” he told the News Tribune.
His reasoning goes beyond politics. Swank has argued that noncitizen officers would face complications carrying firearms under federal law, that background checks for foreign nationals cannot be conducted with the same depth as those for American citizens, and that he has fundamental concerns about noncitizens exercising the authority to detain, arrest, and use force against American citizens. He has also pointed out that no federal law enforcement agency, including the FBI, CIA, or ATF, hires officers who are not citizens.
The noncitizen hiring dispute is one of several confrontations Swank has had with Pierce County’s legal and political establishment since taking office in January 2025. He has clashed with County Prosecutor Mary Robnett over immigration enforcement, sought to enter agreements with ICE that prosecutors say conflict with Washington’s sanctuary laws, and sought independent legal representation after disputing the prosecutor’s legal guidance on multiple issues.
The Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission is now investigating seven cases against Swank stemming from fifteen complaints filed against him. Among the allegations is a claim that he altered public records submitted to Pierce County Superior Court. Swank has characterized the investigations as a political effort to remove him from office, telling reporters it is a complete witch hunt.
The broader context matters for law enforcement leaders watching this story. Washington state’s ongoing legislative push to expand eligibility for noncitizens to be hired reflects a nationwide effort to address the law enforcement staffing crisis by drawing from a broader applicant pool. Swank’s pushback represents a position shared quietly by many sheriffs and chiefs who have concerns about background check limitations, federal firearms restrictions on noncitizens, and the legal and political exposure that could follow a use-of-force incident involving a noncitizen officer.
Swank has said that if a noncitizen becomes an American citizen and meets all qualifications, they will have a place in the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office. His objection is not to immigrants serving in public safety roles. It is to noncitizens holding law enforcement authority over citizens before completing that process.
