2024 Right-Sizing Police Services Project

Public Safety is Our #1 Priority

The Spokane Valley City Council reaffirmed public safety as their top priority at the Council workshop on Feb. 13, 2024. 

The City contracts through an interlocal agreement for law enforcement services provided by the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office. The current five-year contract is for 2023-2027 and includes 91 dedicated officers and 37 officers shared with the Sheriff’s Office. The estimated police budget for 2024 is $29.6 million, approximately 51% of the city’s recurring general fund budget. 

About the Project

While the city’s population has increased steadily since its incorporation 20 years ago, police staffing levels have not kept pace with this growth.

In 2023, the City hired Matrix Consulting Group Ltd. (Matrix) to conduct an extensive review of the Spokane Valley Police Department’s needs, operations and staffing levels, including the calls for service, responses to calls for service, caseload for investigative units and operational delivery. Matrix presented its evaluation of the staffing needs in a final report at the City Council meeting on Nov. 6, 2023. The report includes a set of data-driven recommendations for additional staffing and operational changes to meet the current demands placed on police in Spokane Valley, recommends hiring:

  • an additional 25 new dedicated police positions
  • three new police positions shared with Spokane County
  • two civilian positions (staff is recommending a third civilian position)

Implementation

  • Feb. 27, 2024: Councilmembers unanimously approved hiring 10 additional dedicated police officers and a civilian analyst. The Council also ratified the addition of a previously hired lieutenant in the Office of Professional Standards, which is shared with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office. Read the news release to learn more. 
  • Jan. 7, 2025: City Council unanimously approved assignments for 10 law enforcement positions previously approved for hiring last February. The breakdown of the position assignments, recommended by the city’s Public Safety Committee, Chief Ellis and Sheriff Nowels, include four patrol deputies and one patrol lieutenant, one traffic deputy, one homeless services deputy, two Spokane Valley Investigative Unit detectives, one Spokane Valley Investigative Unit sergeant, and also modifies one patrol sergeant to patrol lieutenant. There are currently 15 new hires in training who will fill current department vacancies and some new positions. Filling these 10 positions will complete Phase I of the Right-Sizing Police Services project, and the Council will discuss the next phase of hiring in the coming year.
  • Next: The City Council is exploring how to fund the remaining recommended 19 police personnel, estimated to be approximately $4.3 million for the first year.

Community Conversations

As Councilmembers continue to work towards implementing the remaining recommendations, community members were encouraged to get involved and help identify desired staffing levels and revenue sources. The City hosted five opportunities in April 2024 to learn more about this project, ask questions and provide input. 

Survey

The survey closed on May 20, 2024. View the results presentation.

Public Safety Committee

The Spokane Valley City Council created a new Public Safety Committee to discuss and provide input to the City Council on critical pending public safety issues. This year, the committee's focus has been to evaluate and provide input to the City Council on the Right-Sizing Police Services project. Councilmembers serving on the committee include Deputy Mayor Tim Hattenburg, Councilmember Laura Padden and Councilmember Ben Wick.

Reference Library

Community Conversations Display Boards 

View below or click here.

  1. 1 Current Revenue Sources Display Board
  2. 2 Staffing Study and Recommendations Display Board
  3. 3 2024 City Budget Display Board
  4. 4 Police Department Display Board