Police Department

Spokane Police Department and Gonzaga University co-host weeklong Dialogue Policing training

Officer Daniel Strassenberg Public Information Office

Wednesday, October 15, 2025 at 5:15 p.m.

During the week of October 6^th, Gonzaga University along with the Spokane Police Department co-hosted a weeklong training event for Dialogue Policing.  The training program, developed by the Columbus Police Department, is a comprehensive, evidence-based, 40-hour course designed to equip law enforcement with communication skills to facilitate in the interaction with community members during large scale gatherings. 

The course is based on a foundation of fostering communication, understanding and collaboration with law enforcement and the community members they serve.  Multiple agencies in/around the Spokane area attended.

The attending officers are introduced to the Dialogue Policing model as well as a class on the perspective of community activists.  This portion of the training also consists of a Q/A session not only with local activists, but also with members of the media.  The class also focuses on de-escalation techniques and science-informed crowd psychology. 

To ensure officers understand the material provided, they take part in training scenarios to further enhance their communication skills before completing the certification requirements at the end of the weeklong training.      

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