Hensley recaps Cheney police activity

CHENEY – Police Chief John D. Hensley presented the department’s budget proposal to the City Council during a Nov. 23 meeting.

During the presentation, the chief also went over the department’s emergency calls over the last year and spoke about how the “new normal” of the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting law enforcement’s work in the area.

The city saw almost the exact same amount of service calls this year (23, 282) compared to last year (23,830).

These numbers are down over 3,000 calls compared to previous years before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chief Hensley estimates the decrease is related to students being subjected to online classes during the pandemic which kept them off campus.

While service calls have been down, crime has increased in the last couple of years.

He said that 2020 and 2021 saw a noticeable increase in crime statistics from previous years before the pandemic.

There were 812 part 1 crimes reported in 2020 and 2021 compared to 650 crimes the previous two years.

Hensley said this could be caused by Cheney’s low-rent prices and cost of living, which is attractive to people who can’t afford to live in Spokane anymore.

The chief voiced concerns about a growing criminal element here that could be connected to the drastic economic and social changes that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hensley presented several of the department’s accomplishments during 2021, which includes the entire department receiving online crisis prevention training.

The department was in 100% compliance with audits and inspections, and they completed research on various options of body cameras which will be implemented in the coming year, he said.

The presentation laid out several goals for the upcoming year.

Officers will be outfitted with Narcan to help combat opioid and fentanyl overdose epidemic, he said.

They are looking to replace two squad cars in their aging fleet and promote a dispatch supervisor.

The chief wants all the officers complete EVOC training, which will teach them how to drive safely in fast-paced emergency situations.

The Police Department is looking at upcoming challenges that will include operating in a post COVID-19 world decreasing their detectives’ caseloads, increased service demands paired with staff shortages, and dealing with the growing and increasingly dangerous element here, he said.