Spokane unveils plan to tackle crime downtown after months of pleas from community

Spokane announced a new 30-day pilot program on Thursday to address crime downtown following a recent poll that found 77% of respondents consider the area “absolutely” dangerous.

Police Chief Kevin Hall hinted at the program earlier this week during a Monday committee meeting. He said the Spokane Police Department would start utilizing overtime savings next week to place more officers downtown and gauge financial sustainability over the next month.

The city confirmed this on Thursday through a news release noting that more officers are heading downtown to increase “visibility and engagement through bike and foot patrols.”

According to the release, the Crisis Outreach, Response and Engagement Plan, or CORE plan, will focus on a “data-driven policing approach” to tackle the areas most impacted by crime.

“By leveraging data and deploying officers on bike and foot patrols,” Hall wrote in the release, “the Spokane Police Department is aiming to build stronger relationships in the community, increase visibility, and address the root causes of issues in our most challenging areas.”

For months, several business owners, developers and real estate brokers have pleaded for more police presence and enforcement downtown. Many have resorted to private security due to the rise in homelessness, open-air drug use and other crimes such as trespassing and theft.

Celebrity chef Chad White even closed his restaurant after it was broken into more than 20 times.

“This new pilot is designed to ensure every member of our community feels supported and safe,” Brown wrote in the release. “This plan combines both qualitative and quantitative strategies – putting more feet on the street, enhancing coordination across teams, and using our resources in a targeted, data-driven way.”

The release also noted that the city is leveraging partnerships with i2 Strategies, a homeless services consulting agency, and Revive Reentry, a transitional housing program.

Thursday’s announcement followed a poll from earlier this week, in which NonStop Local KHQ asked residents whether the perception is accurate that downtown is dangerous. The vast majority agreed, with 77% responding “Absolutely True” and 15% saying “Somewhat True.”

Aside from increasing visibility and enforcement, the CORE plan also includes alternative responses from first responders and behavioral health providers. These include a Behavioral Health Unit, Behavioral Response Unit and the Spokane Fire Department’s CARES Team.

A few weeks ago, reporting from The Spokesman-Review showed that while overdose deaths had decreased about 10% nationwide, that data headed in the opposite direction for Spokane: an 18% increase from April 2023 to April 2024.

“I am confident this approach will allow us to respond to challenges more effectively while fostering a safer and more connected community,” Brown wrote in the release.