A Spokesman-Review Special Collection

Spokane police audit

Spokane police bought $5.3 million in cars, travel, gasoline, weapons, training, clothing, electronics and office equipment over two decades, using a private account operated by the department’s Special Investigations Unit outside of public scrutiny and in violation of city and state laws. This information was revealed in accounting statements obtained by The Spokesman-Review through a public records request. Browse below for the story, documents, audio and interactive graphics.

The ‘golden goose’ fund

Accounting statements show that the Spokane Police Department applied such a broad definition to the purpose of the fund that the account could be used for nearly anything.
Interactive graphics

Find out where the unit spent its money with these clickable charts.
Document: City report

Read the city of Spokane’s review of the SIU account.
Document: State auditor’s report

Read how SIU lieutenants operated the account.
Document: Data procedure

Read the state’s explanation of data used in the audit.
Audio: Chief Anne Kirkpatrick

Listen to the chief describe how she discovered the SIU account.