Neighborhood Resource Officer Program (NRO)

Working with neighborhood volunteers, residents, school officials, and merchants
to address the problems that concern them in their respective neighborhood.

The NRO program was initially launched in disadvantaged neighborhoods and has expanded to maintain a presence citywide.The goals for the NRO program is to work with neighborhood volunteers, residents, school officials, and merchants to address the problems that concern them in their respective neighborhood.  Evaluations of the NRO program by Dr. Quint Thurman of Washington State University in 1992 and again in 1993 suggest the NROs have made important strides in stabilizing crime in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. In addition, the data he collected shows high levels of satisfaction among school personnel, citizens, and parents with the NRO job performance. As a result, the NRO program has been extended to other geographic areas of Spokane.NROs help residents identify and solve problems that affect the viability of their neighborhoods.  NROs are based in each C.O.P.S. Substation and use that base to expand out into the community to help citizens solve their own problems.  NROs interact regularly with C.O.P.S. Substations in their area of responsibility, providing direction and presence when necessary.  NROs provide a positive police presence.

NROs provide a unique problem-solving focus to long standing concerns and treat the underlying problem rather than the symptoms.  As a result, NROs are involved with all facets of their neighborhoods; whether schools, businesses, churches,  neighborhood groups, or city and state agencies.  NROs either directly or indirectly respond to each complaint form written in the Substations.

NROs do not get involved in C.O.P.S. volunteer disputes, unless there is suspected illegal activity or is requested by the Spokane C.O.P.S. Board.  However, the NROs should assist in facilitating In-Service Volunteer meetings to keep volunteers up-to-date on changes within the Spokane Police Department or to address specific concerns of the community.

Your Neighborhood Resource Officers are listed below showing the C.O.P.S. Substation that is their base of operations.  You can contact your NRO by going by the Substation or calling to making a request for an appointment.

  • NRO Officer Paul Taylor, C.O.P.S. Northwest and C.O.P.S. North Hill
  • NRO Officer Traci Douglas, C.O.P.S. West and C.O.P.S. North Central
  • NRO Officer Sandra McIntyre, C.O.P.S. Neva-Wood
  • NRO Officer Dan Strassenberg, C.O.P.S. East Central and Mission Avenue C.O.P.S.
  • NRO Dean Draper, C.O.P.S. Southeast, Greater Spokane C.O.P.S.
  • NRO Officer Kim Thomas, C.O.P.S. Northeast and C.O.P.S. Logan
  • Officer Shanie Redmon and Officer Wayne Downing, Downtown Core