Non-Lethal Response and Community Impact

Spokane Police Keep People First: Navigating the New Landscape of Public Safety

Spokane, Washington, has navigated a complex public safety landscape in recent years. From the high-tension “false shooting report” during the 2024 July 4th fireworks to a transformative 2025, the city is at a crossroads.

Last year saw an encouraging decline in homicides (down 21%), property crime, and domestic violence. However, a different kind of emergency remains at an all-time high: behavioral health crises.

“In Spokane and across the country, first responders are getting more and more calls for behavioral health crises—sometimes drug-induced, sometimes not,” noted a recent Spokane Public Radio interview.

This shift creates a critical challenge for the Spokane Police Department (SPD): How do officers balance the need for order with the safety of citizens who are not 'criminals' in the traditional sense, but individuals in medical or mental distress?

The Gap Between "Less-Lethal" and "Non-Lethal"

The SPD’s mission, as quoted in The Spokesman-Review, is built on “respect and a minimal reliance on the use of force by using rapport-building communication, crisis intervention, and de-escalation tactics.”

Chief Kevin Hall recently reinforced this in a KXLY News interview: “Our goal is a non-lethal response—to use the least amount of force necessary to maintain the peace.”

The data shows the department is trying. The recent Annual Comprehensive Analysis of Reviewable Use of Force Incidents indicates that SPD officers used non-deadly force in just 0.1% of all community contacts. However, when de-escalation fails, the "tools of the trade" often carry risks that contradict the goal of a truly safe outcome.

The Hidden Risks of EMDs.

Currently, when verbal de-escalation isn't enough, the SPD primarily relies on Electro Muscular Devices (EMD). These tools are designed to subdue individuals who actively resist arrest by causing immediate neuromuscular interruption.

While categorized as "less-lethal," the reality for a person in a behavioral health crisis is much more dangerous. EMDs cause the subject to collapse instantly, and while incapacitated, the secondary injuries from uncontrolled falls can be catastrophic.

Specifically, the law firm Horn Wright, LLP, has conducted extensive research on the after-effects of these incidents, reporting: “More severe impacts can cause skull fractures or traumatic brain injuries (TBI). These injuries affect memory, mood, and balance.”

Furthermore, for individuals with underlying heart conditions, often exacerbated by the very substances (like methamphetamines) that trigger these police calls, the electrical shock can lead to irregular heartbeats or sudden cardiac arrest. Reuters found that more than 1,000 people in the U.S. have died after being stunned by EMDs, with the device ruled a contributing factor in at least 153 cases.

This raises a vital question: If a tool carries a risk of permanent brain injury or fatality, can we truly call it "non-lethal"?

The Alternative: True Non-Lethal Response (NLR)

True Non-Lethal Response means zero fatalities. While the SPD has made positive strides by increasing Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training, de-escalation is not a guarantee. When an officer must move from words to action, they need a tool that is physiologically compatible with a subject in crisis.

WRAP® Non-Lethal Response™ (NLR) provides that alternative.

Unlike EMDs, which rely on pain and electrical shock, True Non-Lethal Response involves a unique combination of tools and training that integrate with agency policies. This gives officers a critical and proactive advantage to act first in a measured, controlled way to de-escalate situations quickly with zero fatalities and improve safety for themselves, subjects and local communities. Best of all, it increases goodwill for all involved.

Spokane has already proven it can lower the crime rate. Now, it’s time to evolve the response. It’s time for an alternative. It’s time for True Non-Lethal Response.

Learn more and experience all the benefits of NLR here.