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Bill would codify funding for community policing near state psychiatric hospitals; Medical Lake cites heavy call volume
Summary
Senate Bill 5286 would create statutory recognition and funding for community policing partnerships around Western and Eastern State Hospitals; City of Medical Lake officials said DSHS facilities account for a large share of calls and that statutory funding would stabilize police staffing.
The Law & Justice Committee heard Jan. 28 on Senate Bill 5286, which would create a statutory community partnership program between the Department of Social and Health Services and cities that host state psychiatric hospitals to support community policing.
Committee staff described a history of budget provisos that have provided recurring but nonstatutory funding: the 2023–25 operating budget included about $311,000 per fiscal year to Lakewood for a community partnership (and smaller amounts to reimburse police services), and Medical Lake has received smaller, more recent provisos. The bill would recognize those partnerships in statute and require the state to provide funds through the biannual budget; it would also require DSHS to collect usage data and submit annual reports on calls and program activity.
Senator Holy, sponsor, said codifying the partnerships would provide predictability for municipal staffing. “If we are going to demand that they provide police services to a state agency, we're asking that the state avoid another unfunded state mandate,” Holy said.
Medical Lake Mayor Cooper said DSHS properties occupy about 10% of the city’s population and roughly 25% of call volume, describing many incidents as serious assaults that require multi-hour investigations. “The actual cost is about 730,000 for the biennium,” Mayor Cooper said, noting the governor’s budget proposed $640,000 for 2026–28 and past funding covered much of 2023–25.
Captain Chris Westby of the Lakewood Police Department testified the Western State Hospital community-policing program has reduced calls for service at the hospital by 40% and provides dedicated personnel who train hospital staff and develop relationships that speed response and investigations. Inspector Justin Lundgren of the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office said the Eastern State Hospital properties account for about one-fifth of policing services in Medical Lake and that sustained funding is necessary to maintain dedicated deputies and relationships with hospital staff.
Staff said a fiscal note has been submitted but not yet received. No committee action occurred during the hearing.
