SPOKANE, Wash. – Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown released a statement on Monday addressing the uptick in “officer-involved shootings” in the City of Spokane.
The statement reads:
“I am saddened by the recent occurrences of violence and officer-involved shootings in the City of Spokane. These situations are tragic for everyone involved.
Each of these instances leave a profound impact and highlight the many challenges our community is facing. A top priority for my Administration is connecting those who are at-risk or in crisis with the resources they need before the situation escalates and threatens their safety, as well as the safety of community members and our officers.
I have been in steady communication with Chief Lundgren over the past few weeks and am monitoring these situations closely.
Together, we are committed to transparency in the process of reviewing these shootings and working together to prevent these incidents from occurring in the future,” Mayor Brown said.
Brown’s statement comes after two shootings where officers discharged their weapons on Feb. 12.
On Jan. 31, nine Spokane police officers shot a man on Spokane’s South Hill after he allegedly pointed a gun at officers multiple times. On Jan. 30, a Spokane County deputy shot a man after he was threatening to kill his neighbor and refused to follow police commands.
The Spokane Independent Investigative Response Team is investigating all four shootings.
