Overview
District 3 is comprised of the seven southeastern counties of Washington State covering over 900 miles of state and interstate highways, and shares borders with Oregon and Idaho. More than a 140 employees are assigned, providing an array of services; law enforcement troopers, Target Zero Team, traffic investigations, narcotics investigations, vehicle inspections, criminal investigation detectives, crime laboratory, communications, and support personnel.
The district is responsible for providing service to Asotin, Benton, Columbia, Franklin, Garfield, Walla Walla and Yakima Counties. Detachment offices are located in Yakima, Grandview, Kennewick and Walla Walla.
Key Measurements and Statistics
The mission of the Washington State Patrol (WSP) is to make a difference every day, enhancing the safety and security of our state by providing the best in public safety services.
In 2020, District 3 made it a goal to focus efforts on looking beyond the stop. As a result, the southeast region of the WSP has made an effort to impact crime through criminal interdiction.
Successes of 2020
The year 2020 presented some unexpected challenges for our ongoing community outreach goals. However, we were able to persevere, and here are some of the ways we continued our mission in spite of the challenges:
El Protector and District 3 Recruiter /Public Information Officer (PIO) – For the year 2020, all in person presentations were changed to online presentations. Agriculture companies worked out ways to adjust for virtual learning. Twitter was used to directly communicate to the Hispanic community about COVID-19 related issues and addressing any false rumors. Trooper Mosqueda is continuing to adapt ways to get our traffic safety message out, but he misses the one on one communication.
Trooper Thorson, our PIO, faced the same challenges. He has been able to use Zoom conference calls to meet with groups of students from Yakima Valley Community College, and FaceTime was used for media interviews. Twitter and Instagram were used more to communicate local traffic messages. All that to say, our team was able to adapt and overcome due to the COVID restrictions. Most importantly, they were able to keep the community up to date on important traffic messages.
Community Food Distribution/Toy Drive – We are proud to say that one of our Walla Walla troopers spent four months assisting with food distribution, and we also assisted Kennewick High School with a food distribution event during the Thanksgiving season. Troopers also partnered with local radio stations to assist with toy drives during the Christmas season.
Remembrances – On the 30th anniversary of the passing of Trooper Ray Hawn, an event was held at the Grandview Scale 741 (Trooper Ray Hawn badge # was 741). The family gathered with members of the Washington State Patrol Executive Staff and former members of his detachment. In March, due to the restriction the 10 year anniversary of the fire that took the lives of Trooper Kristopher Sperry, Trooper Gary Miller, and Communications Officer 4 Anne Hewitt – Miller was unfortunately cancelled. However, with the assistance of the Montana State Patrol, flowers were placed on Trooper Sperry’s grave in Eureka, Montana, and then placed locally on Gary and Anne’s grave in the City of Prosser.
Planning for 2021
The Washington State Patrol and Yakama Nation are in the final stages of having an agreement on a service delivery plan that will renew patrolling on state routes in the Yakama Nation reservation. The Memorandum of Understanding clarifies roles and jurisdictional challenges associated with the policy of Retrocession. During 2020, the Washington State Patrol worked with the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs to attend training and attain a Special Law Enforcement Certification for the troopers who respond to calls within the boundaries of the Yakama Nation.
Additional Information and Resources
If you want to be more informed of the events occurring with the Washington State Patrol in southeast Washington, from Yakima County to Idaho and down to Oregon, we encourage you to follow one of our social media platforms here.
District 3 Trooper C. Thorson Twitter – @wspd3piopio
El Protector Trooper D. Mosqueda Twitter – @wspelprotector
El Protector Website – www.wsp.wa.gov/el-protector