Spokane Valley Police Department Deputy Joshua Pratt

The Spokane Valley Police Department created a Homeless Outreach position last year to focus on long term solutions to the city's homelessness problem.

Section:Gallery

Thu., May 12, 2022

Sheriff's deputy Josh Pratt of the Spokane Valley Police wears the uniform and protective gear of a law enforcement office, but his vehicle is filled with extra food, socks, medicine and gloves, shown Wednesday, May 11, 2022. Pratt is the sole police officer in Spokane Valley assigned to work on the issue of homelessness in the city. The job includes making contact with homeless individuals and affected landowners and businesses to try and head off interactions between the two, but he also tries to help individuals with food, referral to other services and trying to get the subjects into treatment if possible.

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Sheriff's deputy Josh Pratt of the Spokane Valley Police, left, and Amanda Boyer, outreach specialist for Spokane Valley Partners, compare notes on multiple calls from people asking for help Wednesday, May 11, 2022. Boyer and Pratt team up most weekdays to sweep the city and reach out to the homeless in Spokane Valley. Pratt is the sole police officer in Spokane Valley assigned to work on the issue of homelessness in the city.

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Amanda Boyer, outreach specialist for Spokane Valley Partners, follows Sheriff's deputy Josh Pratt of the Spokane Valley Police through a hole in the fence behind the Mirabeau Park Hotel and the nearby Walmart to find evidence of dozens of homeless camping spots.Wednesday, May 11, 2022. Boyer and Pratt team up most weekdays to sweep the city and reach out to the homeless in Spokane Valley. Pratt is the sole police officer in Spokane Valley assigned to work on the issue of homelessness in the city.

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Sheriff's deputy Josh Pratt of the Spokane Valley Police, left, backs off and lets Amanda Boyer, facing, talk with a woman who was with a man camping in some trees around the Sullivan Road off ramp from Interstate 90 Wednesday, May 11, 2022. Boyer (background), outreach specialist for Spokane Valley Partners, teams up with Pratt on most weekdays to reach out to the homeless in Spokane Valley. Pratt is the sole police officer in Spokane Valley assigned to work on the issue of homelessness in the city.

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Amanda Boyer, outreach specialist for Spokane Valley Partners, waits with a many who was camping in some trees near Interstate 90 after the man's woman friend showed interest in getting back into drug treatment Wednesday, May 11, 2022. The woman later changed her mind and ran away. Boyer and Sheriff's deputy Josh Pratt team up most weekdays to sweep the city and reach out to the homeless in Spokane Valley. Pratt is the sole police officer in Spokane Valley assigned to work on the issue of homelessness in the city.

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Sheriff's deputy Josh Pratt of the Spokane Valley Police, left, looks over a homeless camp in some trees along Interstate 90 Wednesday, May 11, 2022. Pratt maked the spot on a map and will ask work crews from the jail at Geiger to help with the clean up. Pratt is the sole police officer in Spokane Valley assigned to work on the issue of homelessness in the city.

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Sheriff's deputy Josh Pratt of the Spokane Valley Police, left, backs off confers with Amanda Boyer, right, in some trees along Interstate 90 as they work on helping a woman get into drug treatment Wednesday, May 11, 2022. Boyer (background), outreach specialist for Spokane Valley Partners, teams up with Pratt on most weekdays to reach out to the homeless in Spokane Valley. Pratt is the sole police officer in Spokane Valley assigned to work on the issue of homelessness in the city.

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Sheriff's deputy Josh Pratt of the Spokane Valley Police talks with a man who was camping in some trees around the Sullivan Road off ramp and Interstate 90 Wednesday, May 11, 2022. Amanda Boyer (background) outreach specialist for Spokane Valley Partners, talks with a woman who was also staying in the same area. Pratt is the sole police officer in Spokane Valley assigned to work on the issue of homeless in the city. The job includes making contact with homeless individuals and affected landowners and businesses to try and head off interactions between the two. He also tries to help individuals with food, referral to other services and trying to get the subjects into treatment if possible.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
Sheriff's deputy Josh Pratt of the Spokane Valley Police, left, backs off and lets Amanda Boyer, facing, talk with a woman who was with a man camping in some trees around the Sullivan Road off ramp and Interstate 90 Wednesday, May 11, 2022. Boyer (background), outreach specialist for Spokane Valley Partners, teams up with Pratt on most weekdays to reach out to the homeless in Spokane Valley. Pratt is the sole police officer in Spokane Valley assigned to work on the issue of homelessness in the city.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
Sheriff's deputy Josh Pratt of the Spokane Valley Police stows sacks of ready-to-eat foods in the backseat of his vehicle Wednesday, May 11, 2022. Pratt, who often teams up with Amanda Boyer, outreach specialist for Spokane Valley Partners, is the sole police officer in Spokane Valley assigned to work on the issue of homelessness in the city. The job includes making contact with homeless individuals and affected landowners and businesses to try and head off interactions between the two, but he also tries to help individuals with food, referral to other services and trying to get the subjects into treatment if possible.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo