 About Us
C.O.P.S.
West was born of tragedy.
The October 20, 1991 abduction of 11
year old Nicki Wood and 12 year old Rebecca West from the West Central
area roused the neighborhood to fight crime and make life safer for its
residents. When Nicki's body was found, neighbors united to gain
support of the city council and police department and formed Spokane's
first volunteer-operated Community Oriented Policing Service substation.
C.O.P.S. West opened May 1, 1992. Rebecca West is still missing.
 C.O.P.S.
West was originally built, furnished and in 1994 expanded entirely by
donations from neighborhood businesses, building trade unions and
residents. C.O.P.S. West still operates with volunteer staff and
is supported largely by donations (except for Spokane Police, Department
of Corrections neighborhood-based probation, and parole services).
The substation has become a community policing model throughout Spokane
and the world.
Then Mayor Sheri Barnard Giving
Opening with Welcome.
Huge Turnout from
Community,
School Marching Bands.
Services
Throughout our 15-year history,
C.O.P.S. West's services have reflected the every-changing needs and
resources of our diverse West Central neighborhood. During our
first two years, nearly 200 C.O.P.S. West volunteers, 60 of them trained
Level 1 desk volunteers, worked to provide crime prevention services.
West Central's crime rate dropped 25%. By 1996, people became
complacent, volunteer numbers and hours dropped 45% and our crime rate
soared again. This ebb and flow has continued. Currently, we
face a severe shortage of volunteers. Just 9 trained Level 1 desk
volunteers take on huge numbers of volunteer hours every week to keep
our substation open.
We are grateful to the many
neighborhood volunteers from our partnering agencies who help with
Washington State Department of Corrections Community Corrections
Officers based at C.O.P.S. West. C.C.O.3 Bruce Woods, C.C.O.2
Paul Lopez, and C.C.O.2 Scott Hepler are wonderful partners, as we
offer mutual service to their clients and our neighbors.
We invite you to join us as C.O.P.S.
West volunteers serving with a great group of dedicated people,
receiving free training and having fun together in highly worthwhile
community crime prevention. Stop by or
call us for more information.
Programs
We provide the following C.O.P.S.
programs as our available volunteer force allows and as needs arise in
our community:
Projects
C.O.P.S. West's National Night Out
Against Crime, Block Watch parties, Neighborhood Cleanup, and other
projects and special events are scheduled as interest is expressed by
our neighbors and collaborations. These are arranged with other
C.O.P.S. substations, Spokane Police Department, West Central
Neighborhood Council, West Central Community Center, West Central
Neighborhood Coalition/Education Team, and other government agencies.
Events
West Central Community Neighbor Days
annually celebrates the anniversary of the Grand Opening of West/Wood
C.O.P.S. West on May 1, 1992.
C.O.P.S. West, West Central Community
Center, West Central Community Coalition and friends celebrate again on:
-
April 26, 2008, 10:00am-2:00pm, at
West Central Community Center and adjacent A.M. Cannon Park.
-
Join in the fun all ages with the
North Central High School student fundraiser carnival with booths
featuring works of local artists and crafters, information booths of
C.O.P.S. West and other non-profit organizations, music
entertainment and refreshments.
Meetings
General Meeting:
Second Thursday of each month,
6:00 p.m., located at C.O.P.S. West.
People
The volunteers at
C.O.P.S. West are men and women of various ages. Some are retired
and others currently working in various businesses. Their common cause
is helping the neighborhoods and their citizens maintain and improve
their quality of life and safety.
C.O.P.S. West Board:
-
President - Mary Fryback
-
Vice President -
Heather Lundy
-
Recorder - Jeff
Crouch
-
Treasurer - Kim Bailey
-
Co-Treasurer - Carol Ellsworth
-
Volunteer Coordinator
- Amanda Griffin
-
Block Watch
Coordinator - Tracy Tiwebemal
-
McGruff Safe House
Coordinator - Tracy Tiwebemal
Members-at-large - Dorothy Sporhese, George Craig, Brenda Corbett,
Louise Stamper, Harold Bowker, Walter Stone
Partnerships
-
Washington State
Department of Corrections
-
Washington State
Attorney General's Office
-
West Central Community
Center
-
West Central Neighborhood Council
-
West Central
neighborhood businesses
-
West Central Neighborhood
Coalition/Education Team
Fundraisers
The family of the late Bob and Donna
Lipe continue their generous support by leasing our substation building
at 1901 West Boone to Spokane C.O.P.S. for $1.00 per year, so long as it
remains the C.O.P.S. West substation. We continue to solicit and
receive donations and memorial gifts from individuals, businesses and
other organizations. We seek grants from business, civic and
government organizations. Fundraising events vary as ideas and
opportunities arise, including rummage sales, a raffle, sports
competitions and C.O.P.S. West Craft and Bake Sale at West Central
Neighbor Days.
Newsletter
C.O.P.S. West disseminates news to our
volunteers and neighbors living in Audubon, Emerson-Garfield and West
Central neighborhoods through the Community News that is
published monthly by West Central Community Center.
See the Spokane C.O.P.S. Annual Report. This report is available at all C.O.P.S. Substations.
Contact Us
Phone: (509) 625-3340
Fax:
(509) 568-3107
E-mail:
copswest@spokanepolice.org
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