NEWS
2 • MAY 2014
Public safety pacesetter Scott has brought vision to SCOPE since 1997 By Craig Howard
CURRENT CONTRIBUTOR
This year, the Sheriff Community Oriented Policing Effort (SCOPE) is celebrating two decades of providing an extra layer of public safety throughout Spokane County. Rick Scott has been there for most of that time, first as a volunteer in 1997, then as a SCOPE leader in the Edgecliff area, coordinating a transformative effort that restored hope and order in a neighborhood long known for crime and suburban disenchantment. Scott was named SCOPE director in 2003, quickly establishing himself as a well-liked catalyst of people and programs. He oversees a countywide operation that now includes 18 stations and over 500 volunteers. With nearly 20 programs, the nonprofit organization is recognized as an invaluable supplement to the Spokane County Sheriff ’s Office,
providing an average of 80,000 volunteer hours a year at an estimated value of around $2 million. A Spokane native, Scott joined SCOPE as a volunteer while he was still working in the electronics field, his professional terrain for more than 30 years. He built an electric guitar and amplifier in junior high and later designed a synthesizer. After graduating from West Valley High School in 1970, Scott moved on to Spokane Community College, where he earned a degree in electronics. After SCC, Scott signed on with Victor Business Machines, known for designing calculators, cash registers and adding machines. Scott joined Victor as the first electronic technician for a company forged in the mechanical age. He recalls a time when a desktop calculator retailed for around $2,000. Scott rode the wave of the computer revolution, working for companies like IBM and Keytronics before finding his niche in the banking business. He spent almost 20 years on the technology side of finance, first with Rainier Bank and then with Bank of America. Later in his career, Scott was recognized on a national level by Bank of America for his volunteer work in Edgecliff. He was invited to Texas to work on a neighborhood cleanup and restoration project
The Current
as part of the award, which included a donation to the Edgecliff SCOPE station. Scott traveled throughout the U.S. as part of his job and spent two stints in Montana, but, for the most part, has always called Spokane Valley home. Rick and his wife, Gina, were married in 1995. He has two grown children from a previous marriage who both live in Wyoming. The Current caught up with Scott recently to talk about growing up in the Valley, the value of volunteer work and 20 years of community policing.
One of the hangouts was the A&W at Argonne Village. It was a fun time. It didn’t seem like there was a lot of crime. Q: You joined SCOPE in 1997 as a volunteer. Why did you decide to donate your time, and how is SCOPE different from when you started? A: I had been a victim of a crime and wanted to help in preventing this from happening to others, too. The Edgecliff station had a small membership at the time, and I mainly helped in community events, since I was still working as a technician here in Spokane. I believe we had 14 stations at that time, and now we have 18 stations throughout the county. Back then, each station seemed to be more independent, and now they are have become more united as a team. Q: What are some of the main challenges you face as director? A: SCOPE has over 500 volunteers, making it one of the largest Volunteers in Policing organizations in the U.S. Getting to know each of the volunteers better and their reasons for joining has been one
A Cup of Joe
Q. A.
You’ve lived in the greater Spokane Valley area most of your life. How has it changed since you grew up here? I lived in Dishman, so I had to travel quite a ways to West Valley. I’d go down Argonne Road, and there were just two lanes. It was just houses at that time. Sprague has also been built up a lot since then, too. I threw newspapers for a while, and I’d take some of my newspaper money and go to a soda shop and get a hamburger.
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