Washingtoner - Spokane: Calls To Police, Crime Decrease During Emphasis

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~ 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 this is a testament to both officers and neighborhood partners who have worked together for health and safety. The enforcement emphasis is part of an intentional plan to put new and restored guardrails alongside services to keep public spaces safe and healthy. This includes updating the City's camping ordinance, working to enact a local drug use ordinance and a statewide drug possession law, adding more emergency night-by-night space for those who need a safe place to stay, changing the police staffing model 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 and hours of Homeless Outreach Team assistance 7 days a week.

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On Sunday alone four individuals out of about 60 contacted accepted rides to Trent Resource and Assistance Center - this was the first day any individuals contacted accepted assistance since beginning enforcement emphasis. Mayor Woodward stated that "the City will continue to devote a variety of resources toward the health and safety of our community because safety of our community is everyone's top priority".

The results are promising - only 3 incidents of violent crime were reported downtown last week while property crime remains down nearly 16% since beginning of year when department doubled number of officers downtown; total crime remains down more than 11%. It appears that proactive officer outreach has had positive effects on public safety in Spokane's gateway area.

Filed Under: Government, City

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