An NPR member station
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Spokane Council Turns Down Agreement With Police Guild

Doug Nadvornick/SPR

The Spokane City Council voted unanimously Monday night not to ratify a contract agreement between the city and the Police Guild.

That agreement would have given raises, retroactively, to officers all way the back to 2016.

The seven-zero vote came as council members said the proposal doesn’t give the city enough authority over the actions of the officers in the department. Councilwoman Lori Kinnear says it was clear many of her constituents didn’t support the proposal.

Council President Breean Beggs said the agreement doesn’t comply with the city charter, because it would have limited citizen oversight of the police department. He says the charter allows the police ombudsman the authority to conduct independent investigations, something the guild has fought.

The agreement will now go back to mediation.

A city council press release said the council will work with the mayor to devise police reforms that don’t have to be bargained with the Police Guild.