SPOKANE, Wash. – Spokane City Council has approved a significant funding request from the Spokane Police Department. The decision, made on Monday night, will allow the department to purchase new ballistic gear following recent protests.
The Spokane Police Department is set to receive over $1 million for various items. These include ballistic helmets, night-vision gear, armored vehicles, and ballistic glass.
During the meeting, Council Member Jonathan Bingle expressed his support. “I just think there’s some good investments being made into police today when it comes to police equipment,” he said.
The request for new equipment came two weeks after ICE protests on June 11, when thousands gathered in Spokane. The agenda summary highlights the need for these purchases to assist officers in maintaining peace during civil disturbances and responding to calls involving weapons.
“We’ve seen recently a couple situations where our officers were ill-equipped in some of those scenarios,” a representative stated. The interactions between community members and officers during the protests remain controversial, but the council unanimously agreed on the investment.
In addition to the new gear, the department requested budgets for janitorial services, filing software, crime-tracer software, and updated classroom equipment.
