Spokane: Calls To Police, Crime Decrease During Emphasis
Washingtoner/10232777

~ In the past two weeks, proactive outreach by Spokane police officers in the area surrounding Second Avenue and Division Street has nearly tripled, resulting in a decrease of calls to police. Mayor Nadine Woodward expressed her appreciation for the officers' commitment to keeping neighborhoods safe.

Since the beginning of the enforcement effort, 85 arrests have been made in the blocks surrounding Second and Division. Outstanding warrants have been the basis for many of these arrests, as well as new crimes such as possession of drugs and weapons, assault, domestic violence, malicious mischief, trespassing, and pedestrian interference. Additionally, officers took 117 reports to document incidents or for additional follow-up during this period.

Mayor Woodward also noted that four individuals out of about 60 contacted on Sunday accepted a ride to the Trent Resource and Assistance Center - a testament to both officers and neighborhood partners working together for health and safety. The City is continuing to devote resources towards health and safety initiatives such as updating camping ordinances, enacting local drug use ordinances and statewide drug possession laws, providing emergency night-by-night space for those who need it, changing police staffing models to put more officers on patrol in neighborhoods, doubling the number of officers on patrol downtown, prohibiting gathering in parks overnight, establishing a Violent Crimes Task Force to address prolific offenders, and expanding days/hours of Homeless Outreach Teams offering assistance/cleanup 7 days a week.

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The enforcement emphasis has resulted in positive outcomes; crime reported downtown dropped more than 23% last week while property crime remains down 16% since January when police doubled their presence downtown. Violent crime was reported only 3 times last week. Mayor Woodward concluded that safety is everyone's top priority and that the City will continue its efforts towards achieving this goal.

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