SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane police officers conducted cracked down on the Browne Street Viaduct today, clearing out the area, making arrests and connecting people with resources under new enforcement regulations passed two months ago.
The underpass, which serves as a major gateway into Spokane along the Division-Browne Street corridor, has long struggled with drug addiction and homelessness. Over the past six months, the area has generated more than 460 service calls for police.
“We have a lot of problems in the Browne Street Viaduct,” said Lieutenant Dan Waters of the Spokane Police Department. “There’s always a lot of people down here and a lot of people victimized. We come down here multiple times a day.”
The operation involved a larger police presence than usual because more people than normal were gathering under the bridge. Waters said the new regulations passed in October have given officers more tools to address the ongoing issues.
“The ordinance changes been really big for us because it has allowed us to the discretion to enforce the law,” Waters said.
Before the new ordinance, Spokane police had limited power to cite illegal campers, meaning people would often move to another location after being approached by officers. Now, officers are encouraged to offer only two options: treatment or a citation.
Some local businesses are beginning to notice improvements in the area. Jacob Swartz, general manager of Double Reed Products, said conditions have improved but acknowledged ongoing challenges remain.
“It’s certainly better here,” Swartz said. “We’re hitting that next phase, where we’re just going to have to make sure, we keep the pressure on.”
However, other business owners say the changes haven’t been as visible in other parts of the city. Jeff Kramarz, manager of Motion Auto Supply near the Maple Street Bridge overpass, said the displacement appears temporary.
“I’ve seen them pushed down and then 30 minutes later they are right back,” Kramarz said. “You’ve got campers camping around you and sleeping in the corners and that’s leaving a mess.”
Lieutenant Waters acknowledged that homelessness remains a citywide challenge but expressed optimism that routine enforcement operations could lead to long-term behavioral changes.
“We come down here enough. We start to see that the behavior changes,” Waters said.
During today’s operation, Spokane police were able to contact two people on their “top ten” list. Those are essentially repeat offenders and individuals who utilize the most city services.
COPYRIGHT 2025 BY KXLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.