Committee forwards amendment widening VNET fiscal and indemnity roles after Seattle, Port withdraw

The committee unanimously forwarded a first amendment to the Valley Narcotics Enforcement Team (VNET) interlocal cooperative agreement to the Sept. 16 consent agenda. Federal Way presenters said the amendment modifies membership, grants the fiscal agent authority to execute certain lease and contract functions, clarifies mutual‑aid requirements following the withdrawal of Seattle and the Port of Seattle, and adds shared indemnity language among participating agencies.

Commander Michael Coffey, speaking for the Federal Way Police Department, described VNET as a multi‑agency narcotics enforcement partnership that coordinates investigations across jurisdictions and, where applicable, with the Drug Enforcement Administration. Coffey said the change to fiscal‑agent authority is intended to allow the group to execute leases and similar contracts that the DEA formerly handled, and that indemnity language was updated so agencies share liability if incidents occur.

Coffey and other staff told the committee the city currently participates through an assigned detective who has helped carry larger investigations; they said the city derives investigative capacity and regional coordination from membership. Coffey said he could not speak to Seattle’s operational status or reasons for withdrawal and that he would research whether VNET participated in a recent large seizure publicized in the news.

A committee member moved to forward the proposed amendment to the Sept. 16 consent agenda; the motion passed unanimously. Committee members asked for no further changes at that time but pressed for follow‑up on whether the team participated in a recent regional seizure and for staff to confirm operational details of withdrawn partners.