Erin Hut, Communications Director, 509.625.6740
Wednesday, February 14, 2024 at 12:50 p.m.
Mayor Lisa Brown and Deputy City Administrator Maggie Yates announced details for the upcoming police and fire chief searches, as well as new public safety efforts during a press conference Wednesday.
Yates will lead the search in partnership with executive recruiting firms and a selection committee made of up city officials, service providers, and community leaders.
Community input will be a foundational part of the search and hiring process. Surveys to identify the community’s public safety priorities and key qualifications for the next chiefs will soon be available online at my.spokanecity.org/SaferSpokane. Community meetings to share information about the hiring process and to collect additional input will also be announced soon.
From there, the recruiting firms will post and advertise the job listings, then begin recruiting candidates from across the country.
The selection committee will help guide the processes for both searches and will interview candidates before providing recommendations to Mayor Brown.
Yates will simultaneously lead a new community safety workgroup comprised of subject matter experts and city leaders. This workgroup will meet monthly to identify public safety concerns and challenges, develop solutions, and implement priorities.
Immediate areas of focus for the workgroup include high utilizers of law enforcement and jail space, leveraging resources to maximize the impact of behavioral health response teams, and community-based violence.
“Creating a safer Spokane and improving emergency response services were among my top promises as I came into office. As we search for our new chiefs and begin work to improve our community safety practices, it is critical that we engage the community to learn what their priorities are. Together, we will create a Spokane where all people feel safe,” Mayor Brown said.
“We are grateful to our interim fire and police chiefs, elected officials, union leadership, subject matter experts, and community leaders from across the political spectrum for serving on the hiring selection committee,” Deputy City Administrator Yates said. “Their engagement gives me confidence in the search process, as well as the direction of our public safety efforts overall.”
