Spokane City Council confirms appointment of new police chief, 4th in one year

(The Center Square) – The Spokane City Council on Monday unanimously approved the appointment of Kevin Hall as the city's next police chief, with an anticipated start date of Aug. 26.

Mayor Lisa Brown nominated Hall to lead the Spokane Police Department last month after a nationwide search that started in February. Hall previously served with the Tucson Police Department for more than 30 years and assumed the role of assistant chief with that agency in 2016.

Spokane’s new chief will take over from Interim Police Chief Mike McNab. Hall will mark the fourth chief to serve the City of Spokane in less than a year since Brown was elected.

“I think we got a great hire,” Councilmember Michael Cathcart said. “Obviously, it always remains to be seen, but I really think that we got the right choice, and so [I] really look forward to seeing Chief Hall here in town.”

The first chief to go was Craig Meidl, who announced his departure from SPD shortly after Brown beat Former Mayor Nadine Woodward in the November election. Then, Justin Lundgren took over as interim chief but recently transferred to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.

Hall is set to take over from McNab, who only recently assumed the position upon Lundgren’s transfer. Hall will likely receive a salary between ​​$201,868 and $247,804, as advertised through an executive search firm during the nationwide hunt.

Two local activists testified during the Monday meeting to applaud the appointment but also noted the weight of the position. They hope Hall will bring reform to combat a trend that led one organization to rank SPD as having the second-highest rate of officer-related deaths per population nationwide.

“Hall will have his work cut out for him in taking over the Spokane Police Department,” said Anwar Peace, chair of the Spokane Human Rights Commission, during his testimony.

Councilmember Paul Dillon joined Cathcart in thanking those involved with the selection and hiring process. He said the community-driven nature of the hiring should set the template for other high-level positions within the local government.

Dillon noted that while SPD and other local agencies often manage public safety, it’s also a two-way street that requires constituents’ feedback. He said that Hall’s appointment could signify a change in how that communication plays out from now on.

“We know all too well that the challenges to public safety and the city are immense, and we don’t want to put too much pressure on Chief Hall,” Dillon said, “but we know that change can take time, and I look forward to him getting out in the community.”