Spokane, Wash. – In a show of community solidarity, Mayor Lisa Brown announced that all city‑owned flags will be lowered to half‑staff beginning Friday and remaining that way through the weekend. The gesture honors the two Spokane County sheriff’s deputies who were shot while responding to a domestic‑violence call in the small town of Spangle.
Mayor’s statement
“We are deeply saddened and troubled by the awful act of violence that happened in our community this week,” Brown said at a brief press briefing. “The City of Spokane extends its deepest sympathies to the deputies’ families, friends, and colleagues with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.”
Invitation to residents
Brown also invited Spokane residents and business owners who display flags at their homes or storefronts to join the city in lowering them. She emphasized that the act is not merely symbolic but a public affirmation of support for law‑enforcement officers who put their lives on the line for public safety.
Context of the shooting
The incident occurred on a domestic‑violence call in Spangle, a rural community located about 30 miles east of Spokane. Deputies responded to the scene when an armed individual opened fire, striking both officers. Both deputies survived but remain in critical condition. The shooting marks the first fatal law‑enforcement shooting in Spokane County since 1983, underscoring the seriousness of the threat.
State response
Governor Bob Ferguson issued a separate order for all Washington state flags to be flown at half‑staff on Friday in memory of Whitman County Sheriff Brett Myers, who passed away in late October after battling a rare, aggressive neurological disease. The governor’s proclamation highlights the broader regional respect for public‑service officials.
Community reaction
Local residents have expressed a mixture of grief and resolve. Several neighborhood groups posted messages on social media urging citizens to pause, reflect, and consider ways to support law‑enforcement families. A volunteer organization in Spokane has already begun a donation drive to assist the injured deputies’ families with medical expenses and everyday needs.
Looking ahead
Mayor Brown indicated that the city will continue to monitor the situation and explore additional ways to honor first‑responders, including potential community vigils and a formal resolution at the next city council meeting. She reaffirmed her administration’s commitment to public safety, stating that “our police and sheriff’s deputies are the backbone of a safe Spokane, and we will stand with them in their time of need.”
How to participate
Residents who wish to lower their flags can follow the city’s standard flag‑lowering protocol: the flag should be hoisted to the top of the pole, then slowly lowered to the halfway point and secured there. The city’s public‑works department will ensure that municipal buildings, parks, and other public facilities are properly adjusted.
For those interested in contributing to the deputies’ families, the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office has provided a dedicated donation link on its website. Community members are also encouraged to attend any upcoming memorial services, which will be announced by the sheriff’s office in the coming days.
Original reporting: KHQ Spokane (news) — read the source article.
