Overview
The Special Operations Division is comprised of two sections:
- The Aviation Section
- Executive Services Section.
The Aviation Section provides statewide aerial enforcement, rapid response, airborne assessments of incidents, and transportation services in support of the Patrol’s public safety mission. The WSP Aviation manages a Beechcraft King Air, three Cessna 182s, and two Cessna 206s equipped with Forward Looking Infrared cameras, aerial mapping, and live video downlink.
The Executive Service Section (ESS) consists of the Executive Protection Unit (EPU), the Capitol Campus Detachment, and the Governor’s Mansion Detachment. The EPU provides personal protection for the Governor and first family. The Capitol Campus Detachment provides contracted law enforcement services on the 468-acre Washington State Capitol Campus which includes four parks: Marathon, Heritage, Sylvester, and Centennial. Contracted security services are also provided for the Departments of Labor and Industries and Health Care Authority facilities. The Governor’s Mansion Detachment provides security of the first family while in residence and of the mansion facility and grounds.
Key Measurements and Statistics
Successes of 2019
Beginning in 2017, the Aviation Section successfully implemented a new pilot training program to train non-pilot experienced troopers to achieve Federal Aviation Administration certifications to support Private, Instrument, Commercial, Multi-engine, and Airline Transport Pilot operations. With the first new pilot in training hired in November 2017, followed by the second in July 2018, and the third in 2019, the Aviation Section has made great strides towards its goal of providing sustainable aerial traffic enforcement and traffic congestion management by concentrating efforts to bolster certified pilots.
In early 2019, the Aviation Section began a nine-month restoration of the King Air aircraft. The interior, corrosion protection, paint and avionics were all modernized to 2020 aircraft standards. Additionally, a full “Phase Inspection” of the King Air was completed. This comprehensive inspection consists of over 450 inspection items; it takes three technicians approximately eight weeks to look at every element of the aircraft, including the airframe, engines, and interior.
The Aviation section partnered with the Field Operation Bureau (FOB) to identify and train four Tactical Flight Officers (TFO). Aviation has utilized the TFO’s since October 2019 in support of the Target Zero Aerial Patrol (TZAP) mission.
In response to increasing numbers of campus and public event shootings around the nation, and in recognition of the potential risk of such an event on the Washington State Capitol Campus, the ESS has implemented a multifaceted active-threat training program to help improve emergency services response and operations on campus, including Active Threat Training scenarios on the campus to enhance readiness. In 2019, ESS continued to work to align its Active Threat preparedness training to align with federal standards.
The ESS responded to and managed over 70 rallies and protests on the Capitol Campus during the calendar year. We continue to partner with Department of Enterprise Services (DES) to provide law enforcement and support services to allow for the lawful expression of constitutionally protected rights on campus.
As part of our commitment to partnering with state and local agencies to ensure proper usage of the Capitol Campus, the ESS has partnered with DES and the city of Olympia to mitigate the impacts of Recreational Vehicles parking overnight along Deschutes Parkway. As other local governments grapple with the same issue, many of those have parked along Deschutes Parkway. During a significant portion of 2019, recreational vehicles have lined portions of both shoulders along the parkway causing increased congestion and activity in the area. As a result, troopers have worked with parkers to clear vehicles from the parkway during local events such as Lake Fair and an annual Toy Run. We continue to partner with DES in their formal rule-making process as they work to determine the best use of the parkway. In the meantime, ESS troopers continue to work to keep the parkway usable and its users safe.