Spokane assistant police chief Matt Coles stresses de-escalation, training and community partnerships at Ombuds meeting

Assistant Chief Matt Coles, newly promoted from his previous role overseeing Internal Affairs, introduced himself to the City of Spokane Office of the Police Ombuds Commission at the commission’s April 15 meeting and described several near-term priorities for the department.

Coles, a 27-year Spokane police officer, said he wants officers to be able to “say, I’ve helped people and can retire with that, goal, checkbox checked” and described his focus on department cohesion, training and community relationships. “My direction to my training staff is that that will be our number 1 priority,” he told commissioners.

Why it matters: Coles framed his priorities around reducing instances where force becomes necessary by emphasizing tactics that “slow things down,” give officers time and distance, and improve communications with people in crisis. He identified training, tactics and technology — including aerial observation tools — as tools the department intends to use to reduce risky contact and give officers more information…