July 2026

Changes Are Coming to Non-Emergency Crime Reporting
What you need to know...

As SREC continues supporting the transition to separate emergency communications systems in Spokane County, an important change is coming this fall for non-emergency crime reporting.

Beginning in October, if a non-emergency crime occurs within Spokane city limits, call 311. The City of Spokane will begin managing its own non-emergency call taking and report writing for the Spokane Police Department as part of its transition to an independent emergency communications center.

Crime Check isn't going away. 
SREC will continue providing Crime Check services for the seven other law enforcement agencies we serve throughout Spokane County.

The Crime Check phone number is NOT changing: (509) 456-2233.

The key thing to remember is that it depends on where the incident occurs—not where you live.

• Incident occurs within the City of Spokane: Call 311.
• Incident occurs anywhere else in Spokane County: Call Crime Check at (509) 456-2233.
  

Transition Timeline

• October 2026: The City of Spokane begins handling its own non-emergency crime reporting through 311, including writing Spokane Police Department reports.
• January 2027: Spokane Fire Department begins dispatching its own fire and EMS calls.
• January 1, 2028: The City of Spokane begins answering and triaging its own 911 calls.
• Until January 1, 2028: SREC remains the primary Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for Spokane County and will continue answering all 911 calls, including those originating within the City of Spokane.



We recognize these changes may take some getting used to, and we'll continue providing updates as the transition moves forward. While the way services are delivered will change over the next several months, our shared commitment does not. SREC and the City of Spokane remain focused on the same goal: protecting our community by ensuring every call reaches the right resource as quickly as possible. Public safety remains everyone's number one priority.

Summer Water Safety Starts Before You Dive In

Whether you're spending the day at one of Spokane County's lakes or enjoying time on the river, remember that water conditions can change quickly—even on the hottest summer days.

Cold water, strong currents, changing weather, and underwater hazards can catch even experienced swimmers and boaters off guard.

A few simple precautions can make all the difference:

• Wear a properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
• Keep a close eye on children and inexperienced swimmers.
• Never swim alone.
• Avoid alcohol when boating or swimming.
• Be aware that cold water can cause muscle cramps and cold water shock, even when the air temperature is warm.

If an emergency happens, know your location.

When you call 911, being able to tell Communications Officers exactly where you are helps responders reach you as quickly as possible.

One easy way to do that is with the free what3words app. It divides the world into 10-foot by 10-foot squares, each identified by a unique combination of three words. If you're at a lake, on a trail, or somewhere without a street address, sharing your three-word location can help emergency responders find you faster.

Download the free what3words app before your next outdoor adventure:

Apple Devices

Android Devices

If you experience or witness a water emergency, call 911 immediately. Keep your eyes on the person in the water, note their last known location, and never put yourself at risk attempting a rescue.

A little preparation can help everyone enjoy a safe summer on the water.

Two Major Milestones Mark Progress on SREC's Future Home

When SREC purchased the existing Mirabeau facility in late 2024, it wasn't because we needed a different address—it was because we needed a facility that could support the critical work we do today and well into the future. And retrofitting and upgrading was a much more affordable approach than building new.


Our current operations center was never designed to meet modern survivability standards for a regional emergency communications center. Limited space, aging infrastructure, and the inability to add the redundancies required for mission-critical operations made it clear that SREC needed a long-term solution. By retrofitting an existing building, we're creating a resilient, purpose-built home that will support our employees and the 20 regional public safety agencies we serve across Spokane County—ensuring reliable emergency communications for the communities that depend on us every day.

The first week of July marked two exciting milestones in that transformation: the walls of our future Radio Shop began rising, and crews erected the facility's new radio tower.

Bringing the Radio Shop Home

One of the most exciting developments was watching the walls of the new Radio Shop take shape.

While it may appear that giant concrete panels are simply lifted into place, each wall undergoes an extensive construction process first. The panels are formed on the ground with door and window openings, conduit, and reinforcement already built in. After an initial layer of concrete cures, rigid insulation is added before a second concrete layer is poured, creating an insulated wall nearly 12 inches thick. Once fully cured, cranes carefully lift each panel into place, where it is temporarily braced until the structural steel roof system connects the entire building.

The finished product is an exceptionally strong, energy-efficient structure designed to serve the region for decades.

For many SREC employees, this milestone is especially meaningful because it represents something much bigger than a new workspace.

For the first time in our organization's history, the Radio Shop will be located alongside the rest of SREC. For years, our radio technicians have worked from their downtown Spokane facility while maintaining the countywide radio system that first responders rely on every day. Bringing every department together under one roof will improve collaboration, streamline operations, and strengthen the partnerships that support emergency response throughout Spokane County.

Watch the time lapse video of the wall raising here.

A Tower with a Purpose

The second major milestone came as crews erected the new radio tower.

While only one component of SREC's regional communications network, the tower serves as a visible reminder of the resilient communications infrastructure our Radio Shop and IT teams maintain every day. It also symbolizes another important step toward completing a facility specifically designed to support reliable emergency communications when our community needs it most.

Watch the time lapse video of the tower build here.

Every milestone brings us one step closer to completing a facility built for resiliency, collaboration, and the future of emergency communications. More than a new workplace, this investment will strengthen SREC's ability to support our 20 regional public safety partners and the hundreds of thousands of residents who rely on them every day.