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  Washington State Patrol title head District 1 Problem Oriented Public Safety

The State Patrol’s style of community policing is called Problem Oriented Public Safety, or POPS. The foundation of POPS is based on a philosophy of taking the concerns of the motoring public by addressing persistent problems. When a problem is identified by a citizen, trooper, or anyone with a concern, the POPS trooper works with other agencies and groups to develop the best achievable solution to address the origin of the problem. Solutions to various problems may range from simply educating the public to major construction projects.

POPS Projects and Successes

  • With the Instant Tow Program, tow trucks are dispatched simultaneously with responding troopers to clear blocking disableds and blocking collisions in the
    following areas…
    • Interstate 5 from State Route 512 to Port of Tacoma
    • State Route
      16 from Interstate 5 to the Tacoma Narrows Bridge

  • An updated radio procedure was developed in District 1 to streamline the radio traffic by troopers requesting data from Tacoma Communications in order to facilitate communication between patrol units in the field and dispatchers.

  • A Drug Recognition Expert (DRE)/Standard Field Sobriety Test (SFST) Orientation was implemented to educate local law enforcement officers and Washington State Patrol troopers about the role of Drug Recognition Experts, their levels and areas of expertise, and the criteria and protocol for requesting them to provide assistance.

  • Serious Collision Impaired Driver Testing is a program to ensure Drug Recognition Experts are requested to respond to the scene of all serious injury or fatality collisions where the causing driver survived and may be impaired.

  • The Washington State Patrol and Washington State Department of Transportation are working together to redesign the acceleration ramp to southbound State Route 101 from Black Lake Boulevard to prevent vehicles from merging into traffic before the end of the ramp. By merging too soon, drivers create a hazardous situation which can result in collisions or road rage/aggressive driving incidents.

  • To deter road rage/aggressive driving confrontations and prevent hazardous situations on State Route 167, at 66th Avenue East, the Washington State Patrol and Washington State Department of Transportation are working together to prohibit traffic from using the two-way left turn lane as a routine lane of travel.

  • A recovery process is being developed to make the DUI offender accountable for the cost of processing time incurred by arresting officers.

  • Creation of a catalogued library of resources including lesson plans, video tapes, and PowerPoint presentations for Speakers Panel officers to use when providing safety training and presentations to community groups. The library of information was previously disorganized and time-consuming for officers to locate material to give safety talks.

  • The Time and Activity System (TAS) is one of the administrative sub-systems in the Washington State Patrol's Computer On-line Patrol System. TAS supports the operation and administration of the Washington State Patrol by providing management personnel with information regarding employee time accountability for payroll; deployment and performance statistics; fund accountability; contract, personnel, and mileage costs; and assistance provided to local governments. Statistics drawn from recorded activity are vital in determining the agency's progress in enforcement efforts. A project has been initiated in District 1 to ensure timely submission so information can be efficiently and quickly retrieved and utilized.

  • A project has been implemented to respond to the concerns of citizens and the school districts about the location of a specific bus stop on State Route 162 (Sumner/Orting Highway).

  • Enhanced DUI and speed enforcement in District 1 supports the Washington Traffic Safety Commission's "Drive Hammered, Get Nailed" program, which dedicated extra emphasis patrols from November through December 2002 to targeting impaired driver and speeders.

  • District 1 established emphasis patrols in Washington State Department of Transportation construction zones to enhance the safety of WSDOT crews by providing increased visibility and targeting core mission strategies such as DUI, speed, and aggressive driving. The project was initiated by the motorcycle detachment. The motorcycle has proven to be a valuable tool to use in work zone enforcement due to its maneuverability and versatility.


    • Contact the POPS Coordinator:


    Lieutenant Sean Hartsock
    2502 112th St. E - Tacoma WA 98445-5104
    Phone: (253) 536-4302 - FAX: (253) 548-2030

    		 

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