SPOKANE, Wash. — Mayor Lisa Brown, Councilmember Zack Zappone and Police Chief Kevin Hall will announce the updated approach during Monday’s Public Safety meeting and a Tuesday press conference.
The announcement coincides with the launch of a daytime navigation center and new coordinated street outreach teams.
The next phase will focus on ending public camping and open drug use by giving police officers more discretion to issue citations. Officials will draft recommendations for updating the city’s engagement and enforcement ordinance in collaboration with community partners and the Spokane Police Department.
“We want outreach to people in crisis. We also want public camping and open drug use to end, for the sake of people who are living outside and struggling, and for our collective sense of safety,” Mayor Brown said.
“Our community deserves both compassion and accountability,” Councilmember Zappone said. “By updating our engagement and enforcement ordinance, I believe we can achieve both.”
Police Chief Hall said officers need more discretion in determining when citations and arrests are appropriate.
“We now have places to direct folks to so they can connect to the resources they need, while at the same time ensuring accountability for those who refuse to comply with the law,” Chief Hall said.
City leaders will provide additional details during Tuesday’s press conference.
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