Council approves police participation in Lauren McCluskey Foundation grant partnership

The Pullman City Council approved a memorandum of understanding Tuesday to permit the Pullman Police Department to participate as an external partner in a federal Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) grant application led by Washington State University and the Lauren McCluskey Foundation.

The memorandum would commit local participants to endorse the grant’s goals, participate in coordinated efforts to improve responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking on campus and, contingent on staffing and resources, receive trauma‑informed training for officers. The agreement also designates a representative to participate in monthly coordinated community response (CCR) team meetings.

The police chief said the department already works with local victim‑service providers and prosecutors and that joining the grant partnership would formalize collaboration and help deliver training and resources. "We are already doing much to combat violence in our community, and these items further reinforce our commitment," the chief said, noting recent local homicides linked to domestic violence and stalking as part of the rationale for strengthened, trauma‑informed responses.

Council member Parks, who also noted her work with Alternatives to Violence, voiced strong support for the MOU and said coordinated outreach and training could help more victims access services. The council approved the MOU on a voice vote. The MOU will allow the grant application to list the Pullman Police Department as an external partner; any grant award and use of funds would return to council for acceptance and appropriation if required.