2024 Project Safe Neighborhoods Western Washington

The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) will serve as the fiscal agent for the Western District of Washington's Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Team. The primary focus of the PSN grant will be reducing the harmful effects of community gun violence committed by and affecting juveniles. To achieve this goal, the District will continue to foster strategic partnerships across a broad range of state and local partners, collaborating with these entities to bring critical perspectives to strategic planning discussions. 
 
The geographic scope of our PSN Team represents regions from the border of Oregon in the south, the region north of Seattle, and the South Sound. The District is collaborating with representatives from the Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention (OFSVP) and the state Attorney General's Office. These state partners are similarly working towards the goal of reducing violent crime in our district. 

In a survey of the PSN Team in 2024, juvenile violence was the primary area of concern for almost all participating jurisdictions. The PSN Team will continue to meet regularly to assess which communities are most affected by juvenile gun violence, identifying critical gaps and needs within those communities. With this information, the PSN Team will then identify a strategic outcome to address those needs. For FY24, the District will engage with a consultant to audit one of these high-need communities to provide critical technical assistance in deploying a strategy to reduce gun violence in the area.