SPOKANE, Wash. — The shooting over the weekend in downtown Spokane happened just steps from the Armed Forces Torchlight Parade route Saturday night. Although Spokane police said they weren’t related, the shooting still has some people on edge.
RELATED: One man involved in the shooting during Saturday's Torchlight Parade appeared in court Monday
But the latest crime data shows things are improving in downtown Spokane.
President and CEO Emilie Cameron says public safety is a big priority for the Downtown Spokane Partnership.
"We were thankful that Spokane Police Department reacted quickly,” Emilie Cameron, President CEO Downtown Spokane Partnership said. “Isolated incidents like what happened this weekend in downtown it can absolutely have a ripple effect and people can question their safety.”
There’s a perception that downtown Spokane is not safe. The recent shooting near at the parade didn’t help calm those fears.
But data from Spokane Police shows things are improving downtown.
SPD’s latest data shows violent crime in the downtown precinct decreased by -6.67 percent over the past year. And property crime went down -14.35 percent.
SPD attributes some of that improvement to the department’s reorganization last year that put more officers on the street, which increased their presence downtown.
The Downtown Spokane Partnership also contributes to the safety of downtown.
“We have our uniformed ambassadors who are on the streets of downtown seven days a week," Cameron said. "They are there to be eyes and ears and to help protect people who are in downtown.”
Spokane City council member Paul Dillon chairs the city’s public safety committee. He applauds SPD’s immediate response to the downtown shooting.
"I think that it was handled well," he said. "I think that we saw de-escalation with the crowd."
Dillon believes public safety can always be improved.
"I think that we need to deliver for people we have to not just tell them, you have to show them and demonstrate and follow through with actions," Dillon said.
He told KREM 2, he is committed bringing forward an ordinance that would restrict weapons at public events.
"I think that that's something that oftentimes in cities we overlook," Dillon said.
We also received a statement from the Interim City Administrator: "The City of Spokane has prioritized emergency preparedness for all major events to ensure the safety of our residents and visitors. During this past weekend’s incident, our coordinated response plans were successfully executed and demonstrated the effectiveness of our planning, as well as quick action by our emergency responders."
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