SPOKANE, Wash. — The Spokane City Council may end funding for the C.O.P.S. program which has been in place here since 1991.
Community Oriented Policing Services has served as a safety net for neighbors in the area, but in September, the issue of funding was brought up at Spokane City Council meeting.
A resolution which would have approved almost $500,000 in funding was deferred indefinitely. Councilmembers raised concerns about the program’s use.
According to C.O.P.S. Executive Director Jeff Johnson, C.O.P.S. volunteers provide more than 13,000 hours to public safety prevention in the city, drug takebacks, latent fingerprinting on vandalized cars, helping at school crosswalks, code enforcement complaints, neighborhood patrol, park cleanups and more.
Volunteers also partner with 47 local events including Pig Out in the Park and Hoopfest.
In 2023, the city approved $468,000 in funding for the non-profit which also received $56,000 from the Department of Corrections and money from private donations.
Johnson was surprised when the funding was not approved this year. “This came out of nowhere,” he said.
New Spokane Police Chief Kevin Hall said with the city in a budget deficit, everything the city funds is under review in order to be fiscally responsible.
“I’m not saying the C.O.P.S. is going away, but if their mission changes, or if they decide to go in a different direction, I don’t think any of those services will go away,” said Chief Hall.
Spokane Councilmember Lili Navarrete said she noticed changes in the program after the pandemic with C.O.P.S. shops no longer open to the neighborhoods.
“District Two doesn’t have that support, I don’t see it personally, again being a 30+ year District Two resident, and as a city councilmember listening to my constituents,” said Councilmember Navarrete.
Johnson said the program did lose volunteers since 2020 but they are working to recruit more.
Johnson plans to make a final plea to the Spokane City Council at its meeting Monday night.
COPYRIGHT 2024 BY KXLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
