SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — After a unanimous vote, the Spokane Valley Police Department will hire ten additional police officers and a civilian analyst.
In a meeting held on Feb. 27, Spokane Valley City Council also approved the addition of a lieutenant in the Office of Professional Standards.
The City of Spokane Valley will fund the new positions, costing an estimated $2.125 million annually and $624,000 of one-time costs. The money will be made available through reprioritizing existing funds, made available from the adoption of vehicle license fees, enacted in 2023.
“The safety and well-being of our community is the Council’s number one priority,” said Mayor Pam Haley. “Now is the time to take action and ensure that our Police Department has the resources to protect our community. I’m proud of the Council’s collaboration and support on this issue tonight.”
The Spokane Valley Police Department contracts its services through the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office. While the city’s population has increased steadily since its incorporation 20 years ago, the City of Spokane Valley said police staffing has not kept up with the growth.
In 2023, the Spokane Valley hired Matrix Consulting Group Ltd. (Matrix) to review what the Spokane Valley Police Department needed. This included operations, staffing levels, calls for service, responses to calls, the caseload for investigative units and operational delivery. According to the City of Spokane Valley, Matrix recommended hiring 25 new and dedicated police positions, three positions shared with the County and two civilian positions.
The city said council members continue to work to implement the remaining recommendations.
Community members are urged to get involved and help identify desired staffing levels and revenue sources. In early March, a schedule of events the public can attend to learn more about this project will be released.
For more information, visit SpokaneValleyWA.gov/911. To learn more about becoming a Spokane Valley Police Department police officer, email recruiting@SpokaneSheriff.org or visit SpokaneSheriff.info.
