Lori Kinnear, City Council Member, District 2, 509.625.6261
Tuesday, June 7, 2016 at 8:19 a.m.
The City Council voted to approve a 2017 budget request sponsored by Council Member Lori Kinnear to prioritize property crime prevention and investigation by the police department with increased staffing and resources. This would be funded by working with the County to electronically monitor low level offenders instead of housing them in jail which is more expensive.
“Our citizens want property crimes prevented and when they happen they want them investigated,” Council Member Kinnear explains. “With the current number of officers on our police force that is difficult.”
The Spokane Police Department has requested an increase in pre-trial supervision, including electronic home monitoring, for those who have been released from jail. Robust pre-trial supervision conditioned on evidence-based assessments will likely reduce property crime.
“This is a step in the right direction,” Council Member Kinnear says. “I am grateful for the help of Assistant Chief Meidl and Police Director Jim McDevitt as well as Council Member Breean Beggs.”
The resolution passed 6-0.
