(The Center Square) – Just before the deadline, the Spokane Valley City Council greenlighted a federal grant application on Tuesday that could help fund another round of police hires in the near future.
Deputy City Manager Erik Lamb said the Valley applied for the U.S. Department of Justice grant last year and received $1.25 million. The deadline to submit initial documents this year is June 25, so the city approved this just in time for consideration amid a historic tax proposal accompanying the grant.
A consulting firm recommended that the Valley expand its police force by roughly 30 officers in 2023. The council authorized the first 10 officers through its 2025 budget last year, with help from the Community Oriented Policing Services Hiring Program, or COPS grant, but the city still needs to hire around 20 more…