SPOKANE, Wash. — The City of Spokane hosted the second of four community meetings to collect input from Spokane residents about public safety. The next meetings are April 16th at Liberty Park Library and April 30th virtually.
About two dozen people attended Thursday evening’s meeting. The group discussed how the Spokane Police Department can improve. Some suggestions were for better response times, more de-escalation training and increased community interaction.
Sarah Rose, one of the residents attending the meeting, suggested the department should make sure officers are following traffic laws. She also had suggestions for the qualifications the next Spokane Police Chief should have.
“We want someone who is focusing on the numbers and is focusing on things that actually work. And not just things that sound politically good,” Rose said.
The group also suggested the city should recommend a candidate with budget management experience, has worked up the ranks within law enforcement and is engaged in the community.
Beyond the police department, the group flagged several other public safety concerns, including homelessness, drug use, behavioral health and traffic.
The city posted a survey online.
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