On training the trainers

Three quarters of the way through 2015, statistics from the Cheney Police Department paint a picture of what has become, at least for now, the new normal — relatively low criminal activity, high dispatch call volumes and overtime exceeding budget.

With regards to the latter, it’s all about maintaining officer safety as requirements negotiated into the Police Guild’s contract with the city at the beginning of the year to always have at least two officers on duty during any shift are being met. That’s driven the department to exceed its allotted $26,000 general fund overtime budgeted amount by $...