Some Spokane community members have expressed concerns of government overreach after the city council accepted a grant from the federal government last month.
While city leaders say the $1 million grant from the Department of Justice will increase public safety and help the city’s budget, some community members fear that accepting federal funds will trap city police into collaborating with federal immigration authorities and endanger Spokane residents.
On Jan. 15, the city council voted 5-2 to accept the grant. Spokane Police Chief Kevin Hall said the grant is part of the department’s Community Oriented Policing Hiring Program and will be used to hire eight new police officers and focus on preventing gun violence. Stipulations in the grant require that recipients share information concerning immigration with the federal government…