West Plains Safety Alliance
The West Plains Safety Alliance is a grassroots initiative founded in May 2020 by a group of community stakeholders alarmed by high crime rates and lack of local resources magnified by the pandemic. The West Plains Safety Alliance continues to identify emerging disparities through annual needs assessments and community surveys.
The West Plains Safety Alliance’s mission is to strengthen the West Plains through aligning goals, resources, investments, and energy to create safer and healthier communities. The West Plains Safety Alliance carries out its mission through enhancing current partners to expand or implement new prevention, intervention, and suppression strategies.
Over the last five-year, membership has grown to include over 25 agencies from local governments, law enforcement, Tribes, education, non-profits, and faith-based organizations. The West Plains refers to a geographical region located west of Spokane which includes the cities of Airway Heights, Cheney, Medical Lake, and Tribal lands of both the Spokane and Kalispel Tribe of Indians.
The West Plains Safety Alliance became a non-profit organization in January 2025 to be able to fund current and new priorities of the region.
Police Adventure League
The Airway Heights Police Department in partnership with Peak 7 Adventures was able to pilot its first Police Adventure League (PAL) in the summer of 2022 for under-resourced teens attending Cheney Public Schools. YES Officers work with school and community partners to identify students who would benefit from a structured summer program with positive adult role models. Youth participate in team-building adventures to overcome their perceived limits while building positive relationships with each other and police officers.
PAL runs four days per week during the summer for two months offering students a new outdoor adventure each day paired with meals, transportation, and team building activities.
- Rafting
- Rock Climbing
- Paddleboarding
- Hiking
- Kayaking
- Backpacking
- Snowshoeing
- Challenge Courses
In addition to the Airway Heights Police Department’s partnership with Peak 7 Adventures, numerous other community partners donated in-kind resources to ensure there is no cost to youth and their families to participate. For example, Fairchild Air Force Base provides epic field trips for participants such as flying in a KC-195 while refueling F-15s. Students also spend time on Base learning from K9 officers and the helicopter squadron. To learn more, please watch the following video:
Learn More: Follow us on Facebook @ Police Adventure League
Donate: Give directly to our nonprofit partner, Peak 7 Adventures at www.peak7.org/donate to keep the PAL FREE for participants.
Volunteer: Do you have a great idea for a new adventure or would you like to volunteer with PAL? Connect with YES Officer Carbaugh at [email protected]
Strengthening Families
The Take Action and Link Kids to Healthy Choices Coalition (TALK 2) hosts a FREE 7-week Strengthening Families Program in Airway Heights and Cheney. The program is offered one evening a week with free dinner and childcare for younger siblings.
TALK 2 Healthy Choices Coalition Coordinator, Jessica Deutsch works with the West Plains Safety Alliance for family referrals with children ages 10-14 who would benefit from the evidence-based program which focuses on skills-building to prevent substance misuse, strengthen family communication skills, and improve managing emotions.
Community Engagement
The West Plains Safety Alliance aims to reach more than 20% of its population through law enforcement community engagement each year. The Airway Heights Police Department in partnership with the Cheney Police Department, Spokane Tribal Police Department, and the Eastern Washington University Police Department exceed this goal every year. Here are just a few of the events the West Plains Safety Alliance participates in:
- School Family Nights
- Medication Take Back Events
- Community Food Drives
- Target Zero Campaign
- Walk for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons of WA
- Fairchild Air Force Base Skyfest
- Juneteenth Freedom Day Festival
- Cyberbullying and Internet Safety Classes for students
- Trunk-or-Treat
- Turkey BINGO
- Annual Toy Drives
- Shop with a First Responder
If you are interested in learning more about the West Plains Safety Alliance, please contact Alise Mnati at [email protected]