Kayla Illsley

Officer Kayla Illsley is a police officer with the Airway Heights Police Department and serves on the West Plains Crisis Response Team, where she works alongside mental health professionals in a co-responder model focused on crisis intervention, de-escalation, and community support. With a diverse background spanning fire service, EMS, and law enforcement, she brings a well-rounded and compassionate approach to public safety.

Officer Illsley began her public safety career as a volunteer firefighter before transitioning into emergency medical services, where she spent 10 years working in a variety of demanding environments. During her EMS career, she served with multiple volunteer agencies, worked full time for American Medical Response (AMR) as a Paramedic, operated as a wildland medic, and provided medical coverage at large-scale events, including Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC), the world’s largest EDM festival, along with several other major music festivals and mass-gathering events. She also served as the Assistant Commander for the AMR Honor Guard and currently serves as a peer support member, supporting fellow first responders through critical incidents and personal challenges.

Her law enforcement career began in Oregon with a small rural agency, where she served as a School Resource Deputy and Child Crimes Investigator. Those early experiences helped shape her passion for crisis intervention, victim advocacy, youth engagement, and trauma-informed policing.

Today, Officer Illsley combines her backgrounds in EMS and law enforcement to help bridge the gap between public safety and mental health services. In addition to her patrol and crisis response duties, she is the handler for Crisis Response K9 Tonks, a specially trained golden retriever who assists during mental health calls, emotionally charged incidents, and community outreach events. Together, they work to reduce anxiety, build trust, and create safer, more compassionate interactions between law enforcement and the community.

Officer Illsley is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Forensic Psychology with a minor in Communications through Southern New Hampshire University. Her professional interests include crisis intervention, officer wellness, co-responder programs, peer support, de-escalation strategies, and strengthening partnerships between first responders and the communities they serve.