Washington State Patrol

Infobox Law enforcement agency
agencyname = Washington State Patrol
commonname = Washington State Patrol
abbreviation = WSP
patch = WashingtonSP.jpg


motto = Service With Humility
mottotranslated =
formed = 1921
preceding1 =
employees =
budget =
country = United States Of America
divtype = State
divname = Washington
subdivtype =
subdivname =


mapcaption =
governingbody =
constitution1 =
police = Highway Patrol
local = Yes
headquarters =
sworn = Nearly 1,000 [ [http://www.wsp.wa.gov/about/about.htm Washington State Patrol History and Organization ] ]
unsworn = +1,000 [ [http://www.wsp.wa.gov/about/about.htm Washington State Patrol History and Organization ] ]
minister1name =
minister1pfo =
chief1name = John R. Batiste
chief1position = Chief
unitname = collapsible list | Patrol | Aviation | Detective | Bomb Squad | SWAT | Honor Guard |Canine | Executive Protection | Training
officetype = Bureau
officename = collapsible list |Technical Services Bureau | Investigative Services Bureau | Field Operations Bureau | Fire Protection Bureau | Forensic Laboratory Services Bureau
stationtype = District
stations = 8
boat1type =
boats1 =
aircraft1type = Plane
aircraft1 = 3
website = http://www.wsp.wa.gov/

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 anywhere in the State of Washington, with caveats for Federal property and may have limited authority on Indian reservations. They also have a memorandum of understanding with the Oregon State Police and are granted eight miles (13 km) of jurisdiction into the State of Oregon.Fact|date=November 2007 They are most frequently encountered by citizens on the state highways.

Individual officers of the Washington State Patrol are known as "Troopers" although they are frequently colloquially referred to as "Staters."

Mission Statement

The Washington Sate Patrol makes a difference everday enhancing the safety and security of our state by providing the best in public safety services.

Rank Structure

*Trooper Cadet
*Trooper
*Sergeant
*Lieutenant
*Captain
*Assistant Chief
*Deputy Chief
*Chief

Vehicles

WSP 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. WSP also operates unmarked units, including SUVs and sports cars such as the Camaro, and luxury cars such as Volvo. Some patrol cars are marked, but do not have light bars.

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 on bicycles.

Aviation

WSP 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.

Communications

WSP 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 WSP communications in Clark County. [cite web|url=http://www.katu.com/news/story.asp?ID=69888|publisher=KATU TV|date=|title=story]

WSP dispatchers handle WSP, Department of Fish and Wildlife, Liquor Control Board, WSDOT and Washington State Parks.

Laboratories

WSP operates seven crime laboratories: full-service labs in Seattle, Tacoma, Marysville and Cheney, and limited-service laboratories in Vancouver, Kennewick and Tumwater. The WSP crime lab system provides service to all city and county law enforcement agencies in the state.

State Fire Marshal

Operating under the WSP, 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.

WSP 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 Pragram 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. [Washington State Patrol Website http://www.wsp.wa.gov/fire/firemars.htm]

Uniforms

The current WSP 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 WSP 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 shirts.

In 2007, WSP was awarded "Best Dressed State Law Enforcement Agency" by the National Association of Uniform Manufacturers and Distributors. [cite news|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21449314/|title=Wash. state troopers named best dressed|publisher=AP viaMSNBC|accessdate=2007-11-01|date=Oct. 24, 2007]

Academy

The convert|190|acre|km2|sing=on 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 convert|2.7|mi|km|sing=on emergency driving course which is an actual State Route.(SR-59)Fact|date=November 2007 This was the first high-speed drive course in the world.

Fallen Officers

Since the establishment of the Washington State Patrol, 26 officers have died in the line of duty. [The Officer Down Memorial Page http://www.odmp.org/agency/4114-washington-state-patrol-washington] The most recent, Trooper James E. Saunders, died on October 7, 1999, at the age of 31 from gunshot wounds while conducting a traffic stop in Pasco. At the time of his death, Trooper Saunders had served 8-1/2 years with the Washington State Patrol. [cite web|url=http://www.wsp.wa.gov/newsfaqs/wspmemor.htm|title=WSP memorial|publisher=Washington State Patrol|accessdate=2007-11-01]

ee also

* List of law enforcement agencies in Washington
* State police
* State patrol
* Highway patrol

References

External links

* [http://www.wsp.wa.gov/ Washington State Patrol homepage]
* [http://www.wa.gov/wsp/crime/crimlabs.htm WSP Forensic Laboratory Services]
* [http://www.wslemf.org/ Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial]
* [http://www.northwestradio.com/interceptnw/wsp.htm WSP radio frequencies]