Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown tackles narcotics trafficking with new initiative

In response to a significant rise in drug-related crimes, Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown has proposed a new initiative aimed at enhancing the city’s ability to prosecute narcotics trafficking. This initiative follows a report from the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, which indicated a 288% increase in drug equipment violations and a 283% rise in drug/narcotic violations from 2022 to 2023. The report highlighted that, despite the overall crime rate decreasing by 3.4%, drug offenses have surged dramatically. The proposed initiative includes the creation of a special attorney role that will collaborate with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington. This position aims to target drug dealing and trafficking at its source, with the goal of preventing vulnerable community members from becoming victims of the opioid epidemic. Mayor Brown emphasized the importance of addressing the root causes of drug trafficking to effectively combat the crisis. If the city council approves the proposal, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will assist in recruiting a candidate for the new role, providing workspace, training, and supervision. This partnership is expected to strengthen relationships with federal agencies like the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, while also implementing enhanced penalties for high-level drug dealers. The initiative comes at a time when Spokane is facing challenges related to understaffing in law enforcement agencies, which limits their capacity to enforce drug laws effectively. Washington state ranks last in the nation for the number of officers per capita, further complicating efforts to address the growing narcotics issue in the community.