Bloglander

Spokane Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick appeared in a YouTube video on Wednesday to talk about the recent disbandment of the Property Crimes Unit.

"Now, while we have eliminated our Property Crimes Unit due to budget constraints, we are proactively meeting the Spokane Police Department's goals of reducing vehicle theft, vehicle prowling and burglary," Kirkpatrick says in the minute-long video. She says those crimes will be investigated by officers from other units.

However, only about 5 percent of property crimes will be investigated, as a result of the disbandment of the unit and the loss of its eight detectives, which was announced in early October. 

Police spokeswoman Jennifer DeRuwe says the department has received numerous calls, since the announcement, from locals worried that there will be no more theft investigations. This video is intended to clear that up, she says.