SPOKANE, Wash. – The show ‘Cops,’ which is known for following police and sheriff’s deputies while they conduct arrests and car chases, could return to Spokane County this summer.
In a Spokane County Board Meeting hosted June 11, the board considered a contract proposal for the show filming on July 16 to Aug. 10 in the Spokane Valley and Aug. 13 to Sep. 10 in downtown Spokane.
‘Cops’ would film for free in exchange for promoting Spokane County Sheriff’s Department recruitment.
The program filmed in Spokane County in 2020 after the show was canceled in the midst of racial justice protests spotlighting police killings of unarmed Black men and arguments that ‘Cops’ promoted police violence.
It was picked up by Fox Nation two years later, reviving it from cancellation and allowing the Spokane County footage to air.
Spokane County Undersheriff Kevin Richey alluded to the temporary cancellation of ‘Cops’ during the county board meeting.
“They went through an issue or something where they were taken off TV,” Richey said.
The program is known for depicting violent arrests and police chases. Richey said that deputies look forward to the opportunity to be on television.
“I’ve actually had ‘Cops’ do a ride with me when I was on patrol. It’s a fun experience…We have a handful of pretty funny episodes,” Richey said.
Spokane County Commissioner Mary Kuney expressed discomfort with the undersheriff’s characterization of the show depicting arrests as humorous, but Richey maintained his assertion of the comedic value of the show.
“They’re funny in a good way,” Richey said.
One of the most enduring episodes of ‘Cops’ featured the arrest of transgender Indigenous woman Stephanie Yellowhair in Arizona. In the episode, the arresting officer attempts to exercise his own comedic skills by misgendering Yellowhair and calling her a ‘crossdresser.’
Yellowhair’s response to the officer, “excuse my beauty,” became a popular term of resilience in the face of violence amongst queer communities in the mid-2010s.
Kuney continued to press Richey on the way that the show could impact the American public’s impression of Spokane County.
“My concern is trying to promote the good things that the sheriff’s office is doing, I just worry about the negative light on community members in their worst moments, and is that really a priority for us to show that to the world?” Kuney said.
Richey responded by stating that everyone on the program must consent to appearing on the show, which appeared to satisfy some members of the board, though it is unclear how many members are currently considering approving the proposal.
The contract will appear on the county commissioner’s agenda during the June 18 meeting.
