DEAEF and DEA Seattle Field Division Continue Partnership with Spokane Police Department’s PAL Program

For the fifth year in a row, the DEA Educational Foundation (DEAEF) is proud to continue its partnership with the Spokane Police Activities League (PAL) through DEA Seattle Field Division’s Operation Engage program, strengthening relationships between law enforcement, youth, and families across Spokane, Washington.

What began during the early years of Operation Engage has grown into a dynamic, trust-building collaboration that reaches hundreds of young people each year through hands-on programming focused on leadership, prevention, and community connection.

At the heart of the Spokane PAL program is Jennifer Kerns, Senior Police Officer and Lead Community Outreach Officer for the City of Spokane. Kerns has spent the past five years leading PAL programming and has been involved with the program for nearly a decade, helping it grow into one of the most robust youth-police engagement efforts in the region.

“When you run a program year after year, you make it better every time,” Kerns said. “We’ve grown up with these kids. We’re now seeing some of them head off to college.”

A Summer of Engagement, Leadership, and Prevention

Spokane PAL is a 13-year-old program that serves youth ages 7–16, with a five-week summer program that brings law enforcement and young people together in local parks for structured, safe, and enriching activities. Each summer, the program engages up to 200 youth, giving parents peace of mind while their children spend hours outdoors, learning and building relationships with officers.

Daily activities range from soccer, basketball, flag football, rugby, and park games to STEM projects, reading, and team-based challenges. Throughout the program, officers intentionally weave in PAL’s core values: respect, honesty, leadership, sportsmanship, and integrity, with a growing emphasis on volunteerism and civic pride.

PAL programming also includes targeted prevention education on drug and alcohol awareness, internet safety, bullying, harassment, family safety plans and situational awareness. These topics are designed to meet kids where they are and give them practical tools for real-world situations.

Operation Engage in Action

Through DEA Seattle Field Division’s Operation Engage, the DEAEF supported several standout initiatives in 2025, including outdoor leadership experiences with PEAK 7, Graffiti Action Days, and a powerful all-girls martial arts program.

The PEAK 7 program, launching this spring, focuses on leadership development for middle and high school students through ropes courses, team problem-solving, and outdoor adventure. Activities include hiking, climbing, paddleboarding, kayaking, and even white-water rafting on the Spokane River, which were all designed to build accountability, communication, and teamwork.

“This age group is hungry for leadership opportunities,” Kerns said. “PEAK 7 gives them space to think, work together, and figure things out as a team.”

Pride, Purpose, and Community Beautification

Graffiti Action Days became a highlight of this year’s summer PAL program, especially during periods of extreme heat and poor air quality caused by wildfires. In partnership with the YMCA, our local community centers and local businesses, youth worked alongside officers to clean graffiti using paint, rollers, and power washers. In some cases, murals were added by local artists given that public art discourages vandalism.

More than 120 youth participated, many proudly pointing out their work to family members afterward.

“When kids can say, ‘I cleaned this up,’ that pride stays with them,” Kerns said. “Kids want to help. You just have to give them the opportunity.”

The summer concluded with a downtown clean-up effort, where youth safely collected trash using grabbers and worked with officers to report graffiti locations to the city, which was another exercise in responsibility, leadership, and civic engagement.

Finding Strength and Voice Through Martial Arts

Another powerful component of this year’s partnership was a five-week martial arts program led by Master Kim, held at the Spokane Police Academy. Designed for girls in grades 6–8, the program focused on confidence, self-expression, and personal power.

Parents attended sessions and witnessed dramatic growth from week one to week five.

“Parents were saying, ‘This changed my daughter,’” Kerns said. “The girls found their voice. They learned it’s okay to be loud, strong, and confident.”

Impact That Extends Beyond the Program

DEA Seattle Field Division Community Outreach Specialist Marcus Pickett, MBA, MS, CRC, has visited Spokane each summer as part of Operation Engage, working closely with PAL youth, officers, and Spokane Police leadership.

“I’ve never seen a PAL program like this,” Pickett told Kerns. “It’s incredible.”

According to Kerns, the impact extends far beyond the program itself.

“These relationships matter,” she said. “We see it on the street and in the schools, kids talk to us. They trust us. That trust helps keep communities safer.”

As DEAEF and DEA Seattle Field Division look ahead, the continued partnership with Spokane Police Foundation stands as a powerful example of what happens when prevention, engagement, and community leadership come together year after year to change lives.