Band-aid or cure?
It’s no secret that property crime in Spokane is significantly influenced by the intertwined issues of homelessness and drug use. Our once-great city has seen a rise in theft, burglary, vandalism, and even assault. Many of Spokane's residents report feeling unsafe downtown, even during daylight hours.
These crime problems are often linked to individuals struggling with substance abuse and unstable living conditions. Likely the vast majority of crime is driven by the subject’s need to support drug addictions, leading to opportunistic thefts from businesses, homes, and vehicles. Spokane's growing homelessness crisis, exacerbated by a lack of effective treatment options, affordable housing or non-voluntary rehabilitation services, further fuels this trend. Without stable shelter or employment, many individuals resort to criminal activity as a means of survival. When they see your child’s bicycle in your yard, they see their next fix. Law enforcement and community organizations continue to grapple with these challenges, attempting to balance crime prevention efforts with initiatives to address the root causes of homelessness and addiction, but in many cases making the problem worse.
Historically, security services in Spokane have had a limited impact on reducing overall crime, often merely displacing criminal activity rather than preventing it. In fact, we are seeing this in our own company as well. In practice, this looks like businesses and neighborhoods experiencing temporary relief, followed by crime shifting to less-protected areas rather than diminishing entirely. Professionally this is called Territorial Crime Displacement and it is the best a business owner or resident can hope for until the system changes.
This pattern has been evident in downtown Spokane, where increased patrols and surveillance have pushed property crimes and drug-related offenses into surrounding neighborhoods or business districts rather than addressing the root causes. This can be seen on the South Hill and North along Division. A major consideration is that the transient nature of Spokane’s homeless population and the persistence of drug-related offenses make it difficult for security efforts alone to create lasting reductions in crime. While security can deter incidents in localized areas, broader solutions (such as addressing addiction, homelessness, and economic instability) are necessary for meaningful, long-term change.
The question now becomes, how does one reduce crime in a city with a large criminal transient population, and what role can security play in this equation? In my humble opinion, security services can play a critical role in mitigating crime, but their effectiveness depends entirely on their approach. Security patrols, surveillance systems, and rapid responses to alerts can deter opportunistic crimes, but without collaboration on behalf of businesses and the greater community as a whole, these measures risk merely relocating criminal activity.
The most effective security strategies involve data-driven patrols, working with law enforcement, supporting businesses with proactive crime prevention strategies, and engaging in de-escalation efforts rather than just forceful removal. Columbia Protection is proud to be the leader in our industry within these sectors. Security teams that are trained to recognize and interact with transient populations in a way that balances deterrence with assistance can help stabilize high-crime areas without exacerbating tensions. One of the ways we have implemented this is by partnering with organizations that offer a hand up to those individuals that would otherwise be a recurring pain point for our clients. A little extra time spent talking with them and referring them to treatment now, can make a world of impact later.
Ultimately, reducing crime in a city with a transient criminal population requires a balance of enforcement, intervention, and long-term social solutions, with security playing a supporting role alongside law enforcement, social services, and community engagement efforts. We ca look to Houston, Texas for inspiration and a road map to success.
Houston’s model proves that homelessness can be significantly reduced when cities prioritize housing, coordination, and support services over punitive approaches. Spokane could adopt similar strategies by increasing affordable housing, improving outreach coordination significantly, and ensuring long-term funding for supportive housing programs that focus on healing of the whole person, rather than funding programs that have been proven to exacerbate the crisis. It is my belief that we can reduce cost and improve service, returning Spokane top the gem it once was. Let’s build a better community...together.