Police ombudsman

Spokane’s first police ombudsman, Tim Burns, started work late last month, nearly a year after the City Council created the position amid public outcry over police conduct. Burns, 55, moved to Spokane from Visalia, Calif., where he enforced codes as a neighborhood preservation manager. He also spent 22 years as a police officer in Los Gatos, Calif. For now, he’s working out of a temporary office in Spokane City Hall, but he plans to set up office space at community centers around the city. He discussed his plans in an interview last week. Q.What are you doing to get started?

The warmest day of the year appeared to be enough to keep crowds from a Friday meet and greet with the three finalists vying to be Spokane’s first police ombudsman. Fewer than a dozen people – including two residents and a few city staff members – showed up in the City Council chambers for the first of three public forums with candidates Tony Betz, Tim Burns and Greg Weber.

The warmest day of year appeared to be enough to keep crowds from a Friday meet and greet with the three finalists vying to be Spokane’s first police ombudsman. Fewer than a dozen people — including two citizens and a few city staff members — showed up in the City Council chambers for the first of three public forums with candidates Tony Betz, Tim Burns and Greg Weber.