Tulalip Tribal Police Department: Officer Down

WASHINGTON-Officer Charlie Cortez, died Tuesday, November 17, after the enforcement vessel he was in capsized due to a large wave off of Puget Sound. Cortez and his partner had escorted a distressed boater that evening. Once the boat had capsized several agencies conducted a search. Cortez's partner was found suffering from hypothermia. The search did not come across the body of Cortez and it was determined he did not survive the frigid water. Officer Cortez was with the Tulalip Tribal Police Department for three years.