Airway Heights, Medical Lake Receive Funds For Police

The second round of federal crime bill money will give two small police departments in Spokane County new officers, authorities announced Thursday.

The money allows the Airway Heights and Medical Lake police departments each to hire one new officer this year.

The departments are two of more than 70 in Eastern Washington to receive money under the crime bill this time.

About $434 million was spread among 6,661 law enforcement agencies across the country to help hire officers, said Jack Pintler, a coordinator for Eastern Washington’s U.S. attorney’s office.

The latest portion of the crime bill is called “COPS FAST” (Funding Accelerated for Smaller Towns). Only jurisdictions with populations of less than 50,000 qualified for the cash.

The crime bill is a result of President Clinton’s pledge to put 100,000 more police officers on the nation’s streets. The COPS FAST awards will bring the total number of new officers paid for under Clinton’s plan to 16,674 nationwide.

Last fall, the Spokane Police Department received $2 million under the crime bill - enough to hire 26 officers and more than any other city or county in the state received. Spokane’s reputation for community policing helped, officials said.

Spokane police administrators said their new hires will patrol streets, where they are needed most. Six current officers will be moved to community efforts in the city’s middle schools and neighborhood detective programs.

Another six current officers will be added to the drug and gang unit.

Other Eastern Washington agencies that received money from COPS FAST include sheriffs’ departments in Stevens, Lincoln, Walla Walla, Whitman and Ferry counties and police departments in Tekoa, Davenport, Ritzville, Rosalia and Asotin.