Police department peers elect award winners
CHENEY – Police department elects its 2022 officer and dispatcher of the year.
Officer Cheyanne Walters, 26, has been selected by her peers as the department’s officer of the year. Kate Faibanks, 30, has been selected as the department’s award recipient and has been promoted to lead dispatcher.
Walters started at the Cheney PD in 2020, and has worked in many different capacities since that time.
Police Chief Rick Bechtel said “She’s the one who established our Facebook page, and she follows up with our domestic violence team; she contacts the victims and advises them on next steps in the legal process.”
According to Bechtel, Walters is a credit to the force. “She is always backing up her partners and reaching out the members of the force to assist if necessary.” Bechtel said.
Residents of Cheney contact her in crisis as well, and this has made her stand out in the community, according to Bechtel.
“I think she has done a phenomenal job and I couldn’t agree more with this selection.”
Walters herself had this to say about the award. “For me, working at this department has been one of the biggest blessings of my life. This is the best place I’ve ever worked. It is a community and we all support each other. I couldn’t ask for a better team or chief.”
Cheyanne will be training to become the Cheney PD’s information officer in the summer of this year.
The officer of the year program started in 2012 with Chief Hensley. “We are just continuing that tradition and we look at it as a celebration of our successes and those of the members of our department.” Bechtel said.
Kate Fairbanks, 30, is now lead dispatcher and has received the dispatcher of the year award.
Fairbanks has been with the force since late 2020. Within a relatively short time, she was promoted to lead dispatcher. Her peers elected that she receive this award as well.
“It is a super difficult but super rewarding job.” Bechtel said. “The dispatcher is really our lifeline when we’re out in the field, and Kate takes that to heart.”
According to Bechtel and others in the department, Fairbanks is always looking for ways to anticipate the needs of the Cheney officers.
“The dispatchers are working difficult hours and Kate does her part to make it a more positive environment for everyone.” Bechtel said.
Lucas is a former Cheney Free Press managing editor. He is a nationally published author who contributes regularly to several publications across the country.
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