Council approves police expansion

SPOKANE VALLEY – The City Council unanimously approved 10 new police officer positions on Jan. 7 to address public safety concerns and community support for enhanced law enforcement.

Deputy City Manager Erik Lamb detailed the roles, which include four patrol officers, two patrol lieutenants, one traffic officer, one homeless outreach officer, and three positions for an investigative unit—two officers and a sergeant. These roles will focus on improving response times, targeting high-crime areas, and addressing issues like drug activity and homelessness.

Lamb stressed the importance of the inves...