Yes, cops can bring guns into the Spokane Arena

Law enforcement officers may bring their guns into the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena, and soon they’ll have waivers to prove it.

An incident Saturday night involving Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich raised questions about the arena’s strict no-weapons policy – specifically, whether it applies to cops.

Knezovich, wearing a black suit with a badge on the lapel, was forced to put his gun in his car before attending a charity event at the arena. Baffled, he called the incident “a new level of insanity” and blamed “bureaucracy and bureaucrats run wild.”

On Monday, however, Knezovich cleared the air. “Great meeting with arena staff,” he wrote in a pair of tweets. “(T)hey were very gracious and I fully accept apology.”

Kevin Twohig, executive director of the Public Facilities District that operates the arena, said the no-weapons policy has been in effect since 1995. He said the arena generally doesn’t allow officers to keep their guns unless they’re in uniform.

But staff at the door recognized Knezovich and apologized to him.

“The sheriff’s right,” Twohig said. “There were certainly some communication issues. I think we’ve got those resolved.”

The Public Facilities District has been working with the Spokane Police Department for several months to develop a waiver system for law enforcement officers, which should take effect after the district board votes on Tuesday, Twohig said.

On-duty, off-duty and retired cops will be exempt from the no-weapons policy at the discretion of the sheriff and police chief, he said.