Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper

The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review

Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
News >  Spokane

Condon announces police culture audit will be completed by Gonzaga University students

From staff reports

More than three years after the Use of Force Commission recommended that Spokane leaders study the attitudes and culture within the Spokane Police Department, Mayor David Condon announced Friday the city will move forward with a culture audit.

The Use of Force Commission, which was formed in response to the conviction of a Spokane police officer for violating the civil rights of Otto Zehm, made numerous recommendations for improving the department. The city moved forward on most of the recommendations, but police leaders in 2015 said they didn’t believe a culture audit was necessary.

After Police Chief Frank Straub was forced to resign last year and after a Spokane police officer was accused of sexually assaulting a fellow officer, however, there were renewed calls to conduct an audit.

This summer, city officials said they were working with Gonzaga University to do the study. On Friday, a city news release confirmed that the deal was final.

Under the leadership of JoAnn Danelo Barbour, doctoral students in the Leadership Studies program will conduct the work, according to a city news release. A final study is expected in February.

The Spokesman-Review Newspaper

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are not tax deductible, but are predominately used to help meet the local financial requirements needed to receive national matching-grant funds.

Active Person

Subscribe now to get breaking news alerts in your email inbox

Get breaking news delivered to your inbox as it happens.