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   Washington State Patrol title head El Protector Logo
Hispanic
Community
Outreach
Program

 

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Trooper Rey Gomez Trooper Oscar Garcia
El Protector

Over the past decade, Eastern Washington has experienced a dramatic increase in the number of fatality and felony collisions involving Hispanic/Latino surnamed drivers. Last year, 2002, was a tragic example of this. In the Kennewick and Walla Walla Autonomous Patrol Areas (APA's), there were four vehicular homicide collisions, all of which involved Hispanic/Latino surnamed drivers. Those collisions resulted in the deaths of nine individuals, as well as critically injuring ten others.

The causes of these collisions and resulting deaths and injuries are common: DUI, speed, and failing to use the occupant restraint system in the vehicle. The number of Hispanic/Latino surnamed drivers involved in these types of collisions is greatly disproportionate to the 25% regional Hispanic/Latino population.

The "El Protector" program has been designed to fully integrate the WSP's Problem Oriented Public Safety (POPS) philosophy to engage the Hispanic/Latino community in District 3. This program places special emphasis on people with limited English speaking abilities. In addition, this bilingual/bicultural program provides public education through dialogue with the Hispanic/Latino community, instead of focusing specifically on enforcement measures.

Mission

Educational outreach to the Hispanic/Latino community that addresses DUI and occupant protection education, built in collaboration with community stakeholders.

Goals
  1. Reduce the number of fatality collisions involving Hispanic/Latino drivers/occupants.
  2. Reduce the number of felony collisions involving Hispanic/Latino drivers/occupants.
  3. Reduce the number of Hispanic/Latino community members injured or killed as a result of failing to use vehicle occupant restraint equipment.
  4. Evolve the program to address all traffic safety issues within the Hispanic/Latino community.

Please feel free to contact our El Protector with any comments or traffic-related concerns affecting your community. It is our mission to work with our community to solve problems together. Call us at (509) 734-7034 or e-mail Oscar.Garcia@wsp.wa.gov.

Citizens Advisory Committee

The "El Protector" Advisory Committee involves key members of the Hispanic/Latino community who are actively trying to make a difference. The following is a list of committed Advisory Committee members:

State Senator Mike Hewitt - Elected to the Washington State Senate in 2000.

Mr. Dave Cortinas - Co-owner/publisher of La Voz Hispanic Newspaper of Washington & Oregon, founder of the Tri-Cities Hispanic Action Committee, President of the Tri-City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.


Ms. Maria Vera - Leader at Catholic Family & Child Services, Program Director for both the Community Resource Outreach Team (formerly with Success By Six) and the Child Abuse Prevention initiative's Parent Trust Program.


Ms. Theresa Quezada - Sole proprietor of New Life Consulting and volunteers her time to Success by Six, Boy Scouts, and the Hispanic Outreach Leadership Alliance.


Ms. Lucy Cartagena - Human Resource Manager for Broetje Orchards and volunteers for CONTACT Help-line, a crisis hotline in the Tri-Cities.


Ms. Eva Madrigal - Ms. Madrigal is Director of Snake River Housing, Inc., and the Community Development Program.


Mr. Rick Contreras - Employed by Butterfield Broadcasting as their sales manager for the Tri-Cities DMA.


Mr. Randall Grady - Account Executive at KVEW-ABC TV.
 

Law Enforcement Partners:

Chief Raul Almedia - Mabton Police Department (Yakima Valley "El Protector")
Captain Gary Bainter - Walla Walla Police Department
Captain Bill White - Walla Walla County Sheriff's Office
Sergeant Ron Sabin - Benton County Sheriff's Office
Officer Miguel Sanchez - Walla Walla Police Department
Ms. Nancy Walters - Washington Traffic Safety Commission Regional Coordinator, Walla Walla
Ms. Lynda Lou West - Washington Traffic Safety Commission Regional Coordinator, Tri-Cities

Upcoming Events

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