Police Department

SPD 2022 Highlights!

Here’s a look at some of the changes SPD undertook to better address community needs, and other highlights.

Julie Humphreys, Public Safety Communication Manager

Friday, December 30, 2022 at 1:14 p.m.

SPD creates reorganization plan to increase officer availability

Spokane Police responded to some 273 calls for service (CFS) every day in Spokane in 2022. To date this year, that’s a 5.2% increase from CFS in 2021. With SPD officer staffing levels well below the national average per population, SPD is looking at creative ways to continue to provide excellent service and enhance safety and security for community members. SPD has designed a plan intended to more efficiently schedule officers to decrease response time to calls for service, to put more officers on the streets to respond and be pro-active, to address officer fatigue, and to reduce mandatory overtime. The plan means re-assignment of some officers, units, and command staff to various sectors within the city that each team is responsible for. The overarching goal is for SPD to return to a truer form of Community Oriented Policing with officers developing relationships and ownership in their assigned neighborhoods. The reorganization goes into effect January 8, 2023.

Violent Crimes Task Force created

In response to an increase in several violent crime categories in Spokane, including drive-by shootings, SPD set up a Violent Crimes Task Force (VCTF) in late April. Mayor Nadine Woodward announced the formation of the unit to rapidly address violent crime trends. The unit identifies and arrests the most active and dangerous offenders. Working closely with other law enforcement entities, the VCTF is addressing violent crime incidents and those suspected of being associated with the commission of violent crimes. Addressing violent crime inherently addresses the accompanying drug and property crime. The unit was built on the philosophies and successes of many other specialty teams within the department.

Stolen Property Unit created

In January SPD put together a property crimes unit called SPEAR (Stolen Property Enforcement and Recovery) specifically to address the increase in property crime. The Spokane Police Department understands the sense of intrusion and loss people experience when they are a victim of theft. The unit focuses on property crimes, trafficking in stolen property, retail theft, and forgery, identity theft and other fraud related crimes. The unit has been very effective in investigating and arresting thieves and recovering stolen property. Property crime remains a priority for SPD. Often, those committing property crimes are also involved in other criminal acts including drug offenses. So far in 2022, SPEAR issued 941 new felony charges and 117 new misdemeanor charges.  The Unit also returned countless thousands of dollars’ worth of recovered stolen property to owners including the recovery of $75,000 worth of valuable art.

SPD solves 40 year old cold case

Major Crimes detectives working on a 4-decades old Spokane murder developed probable cause to arrest a suspect living in California. Officers traveled to Los Angeles in October and arrested 62-year old Tracy Sabron Pruitt on Fugitive charges stemming from a 1^st Degree Murder warrant. On May 25, 1982, a 58 year old Spokane businessman was found murdered in his South Hill home by his wife.  Archie Rutherford suffered fatal stab wounds, a skull fracture, and was discovered with an electrical cord tied around his neck.  Spokane Police investigated the murder but did not make any arrests.  Pruitt was arrested in Ohio for an unrelated rape and robbery charge later that year. He was convicted for those crimes and spent 27 years in prison. Pruitt remains in custody in California awaiting extradition. This is the third decades old cold case SPD has solved in as many years.

SPD adds a third Police Academy

In 2023 SPD will put on a third Basic Law Enforcement Academy (BLEA) for the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC). A third yearly academy will assist law enforcement agencies throughout the state, and particularly Eastern Washington, in addressing hiring challenges by expanding their training pipeline for entry level officers. SPD has long held two academies a year. There are 30 spots in each academy of which SPD has 10. That means 20 officers a year can be graduated to the Spokane Police Department. With the additional BLEA, SPD will be able to add up to 30 entry level officers a year to the force. With the current officer staffing level challenges, the additional 10 spots are much welcomed. This year SPD hired 20 entry level officers and 8 laterals, up from 18 and 6 respectively in 2021.

SPD grew its Reserve Officer program by 60%, adding 6 Reserve Officers

These volunteers from our community provide incredible support to the department. Reserve Officers are fully commissioned while on duty and volunteer their time to serve on the front line. SPD held a Reserve Academy from June to December this year to certify more Reserve Officers. Applicants must pass a background check, physical ability test, a polygraph, oral board, psychological testing, medical screening and a review by the Chief of Police. Applicants then attend the 370-plus hour Reserve Officer Academy on evenings and weekends. The program culminates with a certification examination administered by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission prior to graduation. Reserve Officers continue monthly training and volunteering to maintain their status.

SPD adds a police precinct

The City of Spokane opened a new police precinct in the East Central Neighborhood in July. The East Central Neighborhood Council, East Sprague Business Association and neighbors welcomed police presence. The precinct is located in a former city library located next to the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center. Officers formerly worked out of a small space on the lower South Hill. The new location allows officers to expand the community policing model and get to know residents of the East Central Neighborhood while still serving people on the lower South Hill.

SPD would like to thank the community for its continued strong support and for reaching out with letters, emails, and phone calls voicing such. It means a lot to our officers when you take the time to say hello, wave, and otherwise show you appreciate their service. Here’s to a safe, productive, and joyful New Year to all!

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