Spokane leaders defend acceptance of roughly $1 million DOJ COPS grant amid immigrant privacy concerns

Spokane City Council leaders defended their decision to accept a Department of Justice COPS hiring grant after critics worried the award could compel local police to share immigration information.

Council President Wilkerson said the council voted 5–2 on Jan. 15 to approve the grant, describing it as an investment in public safety and promising continued local control and oversight. "The vote was 5 to 2 to approve the grant and the million dollar funding," Wilkerson said. He read a statement from Spokane Police Chief Hall saying the city’s participation "does not change our immigration policies or our commitment to constitutional community focused policing." The chief’s statement also said the department "fully complies with all federal grant conditions while maintaining local control, community trust, and constitutional policing."

Why it matters: Supporters said the funds — about $1 million, as described at the meeting — will pay for additional officers and training to address gun violence and other community safety needs. Opponents and community members said the expedited vote limited public input and raised fears that new federal grant conditions could lead to information-sharing with immigration authorities.

What officials said: Wilkerson noted the city will operate "in full compliance with the Keep Washington Working Act" and emphasized that accepting federal funds does not obligate the city to adopt federal immigration enforcement. He said the administration and police will be monitored and pledged to set up listening sessions with immigrant communities and communities of color, working with the city’s equity officer, Alex Gubelisco.

Voices from the meeting: Former council president Ben Stecker urged care but ultimately defended the council's role of weighing legal advice, court rulings and local needs. Stecker said courts recently had ruled some grant stipulations unenforceable and argued that city leaders must rely on legal counsel and local police when deciding whether to pursue federal funds. "We have to rely on the courts, the legal department, and our local police," Stecker said.

Dissent and next steps: Wilkerson identified Council Member Katkar and Council Member Dixit as the two who voted against accepting the grant. Council Member Dylan was specifically mentioned as having voted in support of the measure. Council leaders said they will evaluate future grants on a case-by-case basis, consider legal or legislative responses in coordination with other cities and state officials, and hold more public engagement before similar items in the future.

What was not specified: The transcript does not record the full motion text, who formally moved or seconded the Jan. 15 motion, nor the complete roll call of how each of the five supporting members voted beyond the names explicitly mentioned at the meeting. The meeting record described the funding as "the million dollar funding" but did not provide an exact figure in dollars and cents beyond that phrasing.

The council said further meetings and listening sessions are planned to address community concerns and that they will continue monitoring implementation of the grant.