Between 1987 and 1997, the Spokane Police Department (SPD) transformed itself from a classic style police department, with all decisions made by the chief and his top managers, to one that adopted an officer problem-solving approach to crime that emphasizes partnership with the community.

Brief Stats: 190,000 residents Police department manpower: 297 COPS grants: COPS Universal Hiring, COPS MORE

Policing Focus

The transition. A Strategic Planning Committee was established to improve communication throughout the department, and a new patrol manual was issued that stressed individual problem solving by officers and increased contact with citizens. Supervisors identified as innovators were given authority to design new programs. Two new substations were established to create a closer bond between patrol units and the community, and SPD redeployed its functional police units into three geographic regions to help investigators form stronger partnerships with the communities they serve.

Community relations and training. SPD emphasized community policing by developing working relationships with local residents through citizen organizations, police-school programs to fight drug abuse and truancy, creation of a special Neighborhood Investigative Resource Officers unit, and expanded volunteerism to encourage more citizens to work with the department. The SPD training curriculum was revised to imprint the philosophy of community policing in veteran officers and new recruits.

Help from COPS. SPD received Federal grants to support its community policing efforts. A $200,000 COPS Universal Hiring grant enabled the department to hire 26 additional officers, including crime analysis personnel to design and implement the department's new crime analysis capabilities. An $850,000 COPS MORE grant helped SPD purchase a system that enables officers to phone in their reports.

For more information, click on the NATIONAL COPS EVALUATION-ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE CASE STUDY: Spokane, Washington, by Peter M. Sheingold, which chronicles the history of SPD's community policing efforts in three stages:

1. SPD during 1975–1986.
2. SPD's community policing program and changes in the department under a new police chief.
3. How the SPD operates today.