SPOKANE, Wash. – The Spokane City Council is set to discuss an ordinance that would allow the Spokane Police Department to invest in its own explosives detection K-9. The decision will be made during the council meeting on June 30.
According to the ordinance getting explosive detection canine is a critical need for Spokane and its regional law enforcement partners.
Currently, the Spokane Police Department (SPD) lacks access to such resources on the east side of the state.
The closest are located at Hanford and Fairchild Air Force Base, requiring federal mutual aid requests. These requests are often delayed and unreliable in urgent scenarios, according to the report.
The ordinance outlines that an explosive detection canine will provide SPD with an immediate resource to secure large-scale public events, high-traffic venues, and potential threat situations.
The council agenda notes the unique advantages of explosive detection dogs, highlighting their unmatched olfactory sensitivity.
They can detect even trace amounts of explosive materials, regardless of concealment or environmental interference, and operate in complex environments.
“In today’s climate of evolving security risks and increasing mass gathering events, an explosive ordinance detection canine is not only a strategic investment but a force multiplier,” as stated in the ordinance.
The proposed ordinance would amend the biennial budget to allocate $42,654 for the K-9. This includes $20,000 for registration and schooling, $5,360 for travel expenses, $8,294 for equipment and services, and $9,000 for interfund capital commissioning.
