SPOKANE, Wash. – A new initiative in downtown Spokane shows promise in tackling crime and assisting the homeless. The city has launched a pilot program called the Crisis Outreach Response and Engagement (CORE) to address these issues.
The program began on Monday and involves 26 officers patrolling downtown Spokane 24 hours a day. Behavioral health teams work alongside to provide crisis outreach. Business owners in the area are already observing positive changes.
The 30-day pilot program focuses on addressing high-reported incidents of drug use, vandalism, theft, and malicious mischief.
Mitchell Dunn, a manager at the Lucky Leaf marijuana dispensary, shared his observations.
“I work 9 to 6 most days. I’ll get here, um, see one or two individuals outside our store and I’ll, before I even clock on, I’ll come ask them to, you know, maybe take a lap, take a lap or, um, if they could keep it moving,” Dunn said.
Dunn, a native of eastern Washington and a father of two, expressed his concerns about crime around his business. “I’m born and raised here. I’ve got two little boys and it’s something that I worry about,” he said. The cash-only nature of his business heightens these worries.
With the additional police presence, Dunn feels relieved about safety. “It’s less stress for me if I have to deal with stuff that I don’t normally want to per se,” he added.
The city will evaluate the program’s success next week and at the end of the 30-day period. Its future depends on reducing incidents of open drug use, vandalism, and trespassing.
