SPOKANE, Wash. — Beginning October 27, Spokane residents can call 311 to report non-emergency police and fire matters such as suspicious activity, crimes no longer in progress, or other incidents that do not require an immediate emergency response. The transition from Crime Check to Spokane 311 creates a single point of contact for residents seeking assistance from city services.
The change eliminates confusion for residents who previously needed to remember multiple phone numbers. Residents will use the 3-1-1 number to submit service requests, report issues like potholes and unauthorized camping, and pay utility bills.
“Transitioning City of Spokane non-emergency calls from Crime Check to Spokane 311 marks the first step in the implementation of our independent emergency communications system. With this step, we look forward to streamlining our reporting process, improving response, and making it easier for Spokane residents to remember who to call for help for non-emergency related needs,” Mayor Lisa Brown said.
This milestone is the first in a series of operational changes the City of Spokane will complete over the next two years as it establishes its own Primary Safety Answering Point (PSAP). The city has invested in new technology and hired additional call-takers to handle the transition.
Police Chief Kevin Hall said Spokane’s independent system will allow the city to make changes more quickly.
“In the other model, the regional model, we would have to go through a board and get approval to improve processes or systems that we see immediately need to be improved,” Hall said.
The city plans to begin dispatching its own fire calls at the beginning of next year and take over all of Spokane’s 911 calls before the beginning of 2028. Hall said the new call center will include specialized mental health professionals to help respond to emergencies appropriately.
Stephen Williams, Spokane’s director of emergency communications, said the city is working to hire and train dispatchers for the transition.
“We recently hired 14 non-emergency call takers who are currently getting trained to go live for that October 27th date. We will also be hiring 14 additional dispatchers,” Williams said.
Williams said all new hires will be certified in emergency call-taking and CPR
When callers dial 311, trained staff will assess the call and route it to the appropriate department or emergency personnel. Emergencies requiring an immediate police, fire, or medical response should always be reported to 911. If someone accidentally calls 311 with an emergency, the call will be transferred to 911.
Residents should continue calling Crime Check through October 26. The 311 system will begin accepting non-emergency calls on October 27. A public education campaign is underway to inform the community about the transition.
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