Washington State Patrol
| Washington State Patrol | |
| Abbreviation | WSP |
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| Patch of the Washington State Patrol. | |
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| Logo of the Washington State Patrol. | |
| Motto | Service With Humility |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1921 |
| Employees | 2,410 (as of 2006) [1] |
| Legal personality | Governmental: Government agency |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction* | State of Washington (state), USA |
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| Washington State Patrol Districts | |
| Size | 71,342 square miles (184,770 km2) |
| Population | 6,468,424 (2007 est.)[2] |
| General nature | |
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | Olympia, Washington |
| Troopers | 1,059 (as of 2004) [3] |
| Civilians | 1,239 (as of 2004) [3] |
| Agency executive | John R. Batiste, Chief |
| Units |
List
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| Bureaus |
List
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| Website | |
| http://www.wsp.wa.gov/ | |
| Footnotes | |
| * Divisional agency: Division of the country, over which the agency has usual operational jurisdiction. | |
The Washington State Patrol (WSP) is the state police agency for the State of Washington. The first six motorcycle patrolmen of the (then) Highway Patrol were commissioned September 1, 1921. The agency was renamed to Washington State Patrol in June 1933. In 1925 William Cole was appointed as the first Chief. The current chief is Chief John R. Batiste.
The State Patrol has law enforcement authority throughout the State of Washington, with caveats for Federal property, and limited authority on Indian reservations. Individual officers of the Washington State Patrol are known as "'Troopers'" although they are infrequently colloquially referred to as "Staters", Troopers in western Washington, are most frequently encountered by citizens on the state highways. However, in the eastern portion of the state and in rural areas, Troopers work both state and county roadways, frequently assisting other agencies.
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[edit] Mission statement
The Washington State Patrol makes a difference every day, enhancing the safety and security of our state by providing the best in public safety services. Recently the motto has been changed back to, "Service With Humility" to reflect a return to the traditional values that made the Washington State Patrol a well-respected part of the community. Note that WSP's motto does not include the classic reference to 'protect'.
[edit] Rank Structure
| Rank | Insignia |
|---|---|
| Chief |
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| Deputy Chief |
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| Assistant Chief |
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| Captain |
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| Lieutenant |
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| Sergeant |
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| Trooper | |
| Trooper Cadet |
[edit] Vehicles
Washington State Patrol patrol cars are usually white in color, however they can be of any color or make. The typical marked unit features two prominent features: the Washington State Patrol shield logo, and the dark blue "Thunder bolt" that underlies the State Patrol shield. In addition, marked vehicles bearing these markings usually feature the words "STATE PATROL" above the shield and Thunder bolt, and these features are usually found on the front right hand and front left hand door of the vehicle. Washington State Patrol also operates unmarked units, including SUVs and sports cars such as the Camaro, and luxury cars such as Volvo. Newer vehicles such as the Chevrolet Impala and the Dodge Charger have been added to the motor pool. Some patrol cars are marked, but do not have light bars.
Most Washington police vehicles have state exemption from licensing fees and as such most police department plates do not have tabs and are marked with "XMT" at the start of the numeric series. However Washington State Patrol mark their vehicles with plates such as "123 WSP". In that example the "123" would be the badge number of the Washington State Patrol officer to whom the vehicle is issued. This applies to all marked vehicles. Some unmarked units display non-exempt license plates for further concealment.
The units are typically equipped with Setina Bodyguard push bumpers and police style partitions inside the vehicles. Washington State Patrol has a current contract with Setina Manufacturing Company based out of Olympia, the capital of Washington.
The units which have the lightbar equipped on the roof are made by Whelen and are of the 9000 Edge Series, the typical square appearing lightbar. Newer vehicles have been equipped with the Whelen Liberty LFL, the newest LED lightbar available. The color of choice is blue, having at least one red front-facing light per state law. Older lightbars have been upgraded with their red portion being new LED units making the red not noticeable until turned on.
Some other rarer police units which have been seen are units like a Chevrolet Astro, used for weigh in stations off the freeways, and the Dodge Intrepid of which there are only two reported still active.
The overall design of the State Patrol vehicle marking (shield and Thunder bolt) remains largely unchanged since the 1930s.
Washington State Troopers patrol the Washington State Capitol Campus, Capitol Lake, and area parks, mainly during public events such as Lakefair, on bicycles. Troopers also make traffic stops along the boardwalk in Olympia and patrol the Washington State Ferries waiting lines on bicycles.
[edit] Aviation
Washington State Patrol has an aviation wing headquartered at the Olympia Airport. The Aviation Section provides aerial traffic enforcement and other law enforcement services. They also engage in drug enforcement missions and transport donor organs and blood supplies in medical emergencies. The call sign for WSP Aircraft is Smokey. Smokey 4 is one of the most common to be seen and is used to patrol the I-5 corridor.
[edit] Communications
Washington State Patrol has its own statewide non-trunked, repeater-based, VHF radio network that covers the state. Towers for this network can be seen near highways and look like cell sites, but with longer antennas. In August, 2004, one of these towers near Vancouver, Washington was damaged by an arsonist, taking out Washington State Patrol communications in Clark County.[4][dead link]
Washington State Patrol dispatchers handle statewide law enforcement dispatching and radio communications for the Washington State Patrol, Fish & Wildlife Police Officers of the Department of Fish and Wildlife, Natural Resource Enforcement Officers of the Department of Natural Resources, Law Enforcement Officers of the US Forest Service, Liquor Enforcement Officers of the Liquor Control Board, Park Rangers of the Washington State Parks, and the WSDOT.
[edit] Laboratories
Washington State Patrol operates seven crime laboratories: full-service labs in Seattle, Tacoma, Marysville and Cheney, and limited-service laboratories in Vancouver, Kennewick and Tumwater. The Washington State Patrol crime lab system provides service to all city and county law enforcement agencies in the state.
[edit] State Fire Marshal
Operating under the Washington State Patrol, the Office of the State Fire Marshal, Fire Protection Bureau, provides services to fire districts, government agencies, members of the media, and the general public. These services include:
- fire incident reporting and data collection
- fire code review and adoption
- construction plan review for fire sprinkler and alarm systems
- fire inspections of high risk occupancies housing elderly and vulnerable populations
In addition, the Fire Protection Bureau regulates the fireworks and sprinkler industry through a licensing program.
Washington State Patrol operates the State Fire Training Academy, which provides high-risk fire training to fire departments and fire protection districts. In addition, they provide a Certification Program through a standards and accreditation process. The Fire Protection Bureau also provides coordination of Washington State fire service resources for mobilization during natural or human-caused disasters. Hazardous materials training, fire and life safety prevention education, and public information services are also responsibilities of the Fire Protection Bureau.[5]
[edit] Uniforms
The current Washington State Patrol uniform is a French Blue shirt with royal blue pocket flaps, French blue pants striped with royal blue, and a royal blue campaign hat. The Washington State Patrol is one of only two state police agencies (New Mexico State Police being the other) that wear a black bow tie with their long sleeve winter uniform shirts.
In 2007, Washington State Patrol was awarded "Best Dressed State Law Enforcement Agency" by the National Association of Uniform Manufacturers and Distributors.[6]
[edit] Firearms
Currently the standard sidearm issued for State Troopers is the Smith & Wesson M&P[7] in 40 S&W. Other arms used are Remington 870 shotgun, AR-15 rifles and HK MP5 submachine guns (the latter only used by WSP SWAT and other specialty units).
[edit] Academy
The 190-acre (0.77 km2) large State Patrol academy is in Shelton, Washington. The Academy was given to the Washington State Patrol in 1947, and was dedicated on December 29, 1969. It includes a 2.7-mile (4.3 km) emergency driving course which is an actual State Route.(SR-59)[citation needed] This was the first high-speed drive course in the world.
[edit] Controversies
Several scandals have recently rocked the agency. 8 troopers currently face termination in a fake diploma scam. Troopers who have earned a two year degree are entitled to a 2% pay raise and those who have earned a bachelor's are entitled to a 4% pay raise. During a recent federal probe of a diploma mill, 8 trooper's names came up during the investigation. The troopers were later discovered to have submitted fake diplomas along with applications for a pay increase. Patrol spokesman Bob Calkins reports that the agency intends to fire the troopers. As of December 2011 these Troopers are still employed with the Washington State Patrol[8]
[edit] Natural Resources
In January 2009, Governor Christine Gregoire proposed the idea of moving Fish & Wildlife Enforcement Officers employed by the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) and Natural Resource Law Enforcement Officers currently employed by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to the State Patrol as a budget saving measure. This idea was fiercely opposed by outdoorsmen, WDFW, DNR and the state sheriff's association and never gained any ground by state legislators.
In September 2009, Governor Gregoire again proposed the merging of the WDFW and DNR law enforcement officers and either putting them under control of the State Patrol or making a separate Natural Resources Police Department. This was once again proposed as a budget saving measure as part of the governor's Natural Resource Reform program. This proposal was once again fiercely opposed by outdoorsmen, WDFW, DNR and the state sheriff's association and never gained any support.
Oregon and Alaska are the only states who have their natural resource enforcement officers part of the state patrol.
[edit] Fallen Officers
Since the establishment of the Washington State Patrol, 27 officers have died in the line of duty. [9]
| Officer | Date of Death | Cause |
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| Patrolman Vernon G. Fortin |
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Motorcycle accident |
| Patrolman Irving M. Thorsvig |
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Motorcycle accident |
| Patrolman Conrad C. Tolson |
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Motorcycle accident |
| Patrolman H. Douglas Cossman |
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Automobile accident |
| Patrolman William H. Pautzke |
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Motorcycle accident |
| Captain Loren G. Ray |
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Fall |
| Patrolman Allen E. Ludden |
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Motorcycle accident |
| Trooper John H. Gulden |
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Gunfire |
| Patrolman Thomas J. Hanlin |
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Automobile accident |
| Patrolman Paul H. Johnson |
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Gunfire |
| Patrolman Ivan Belka |
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Automobile accident |
| Patrolman Donald R. Campbell |
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Struck by vehicle |
| Patrolman John F. Wright |
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Vehicular assault |
| Patrolman Eugene A. Bolstad |
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Drowned |
| Patrolman Ernest E. Eichhorn |
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Vehicular assault |
| Patrolman Wesley H. Whittenberg |
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Struck by vehicle |
| Trooper Clarence C. Johnson |
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Automobile accident |
| Trooper Charles Frank Noble |
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Gunfire |
| Control Officer Joseph A. Modlin |
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Struck by vehicle |
| Trooper Thomas L. Hendrickson |
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Vehicular assault |
| Trooper Glenda Darlene Thomas |
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Struck by vehicle |
| Trooper James S. Gain |
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Struck by vehicle |
| Trooper Clifford R. Hansell |
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Automobile accident |
| Trooper Raymond L. Hawn |
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Struck by vehicle |
| Trooper Steven Lee Frink |
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Vehicle pursuit |
| Trooper James E. Saunders |
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Gunfire |
| Trooper Tony Radulescu |
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Gunfire |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ OFM 2009-11 Agency Detail Budgets
- ^ http://www.census.gov/popest/states/NST-ann-est.html 2007 Population Estimates
- ^ a b USDOJ Bureau of Justice Statistics Census of Law Enforcement Agencies 2004
- ^ "story". KATU TV. http://www.katu.com/news/story.asp?ID=69888.
- ^ Washington State Patrol Website http://www.wsp.wa.gov/fire/firemars.htm
- ^ "Wash. state troopers named best dressed". AP viaMSNBC. October 24, 2007. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21449314/. Retrieved 2007-11-01.
- ^ http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2010/05/10/local_news/doc4be8570159336302295160.txt
- ^ Washington State Patrol Recommends Firing Eight Troopers. KUOW News. August 4, 2009. http://news.opb.org/article/5552-washington-state-patrol-recommends-firing-eight-troopers/. Retrieved 2009-08-21
- ^ The Officer Down Memorial Page http://www.odmp.org/agency/4114-washington-state-patrol-washington
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Washington State Patrol |
- Washington State Patrol homepage
- WSP Forensic Laboratory Services Bureau
- Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial
- WSP radio frequencies
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