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2021 Annual Report: District 1

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In February 2021, the drivers of a Lamborghini, a BMW, and a Porsche were arrested, and two individuals had their luxury cars impounded after troopers caught them racing at more than 100 mph on State Route 16 and the Narrows Bridge.
In February 2021, the drivers of a Lamborghini, a BMW, and a Porsche were arrested, and two individuals had their luxury cars impounded after troopers caught them racing at more than 100 mph on State Route 16 and the Narrows Bridge.
In 2021, District 1 troopers participated in several multi-agency emphasis patrols focused on removing impaired drivers from the roadway. Over a period of three weekends during the winter holidays District 1 troopers made 46 DUI arrests.
In 2021, District 1 troopers participated in several multi-agency emphasis patrols focused on removing impaired drivers from the roadway. Over a period of three weekends during the winter holidays District 1 troopers made 46 DUI arrests.
In December 2021, District 1 and District 8 personnel participated in a “Shop with a Cop” event. Troopers and sergeants shopped with underprivileged children who selected toys and necessities for not only themselves but also for their families. Masks were removed for photo.
In December 2021, District 1 and District 8 personnel participated in a “Shop with a Cop” event. Troopers and sergeants shopped with underprivileged children who selected toys and necessities for not only themselves but also for their families. Masks were removed for photo.
In October 2021, District 1 and local law enforcement agency personnel attended a football game at Truman Middle School in Tacoma to cheer on fallen WSP Detective Trooper Eric Gunderson’s son Brayden Gunderson and his teammates.
In October 2021, District 1 and local law enforcement agency personnel attended a football game at Truman Middle School in Tacoma to cheer on fallen WSP Detective Trooper Eric Gunderson’s son Brayden Gunderson and his teammates.

Overview

The Washington State Patrol (WSP) District 1 is situated in the Puget Sound Basin, providing law enforcement services in Pierce and Thurston County.   The district headquarters and detachments are based out of the Combined Transportation Center in Tacoma and a Tumwater office, as well as dedicated field patrols providing Gig Harbor area enforcement.  Over 200 employees are assigned to law enforcement, traffic investigations, auto theft, vehicle inspections, communications, administrative support services, forensic laboratory services, deputy fire marshals, and electronic services in District 1.

Stretching from the waters of Puget Sound to Mount Rainier, one of the highest points in North America, District 1 is one of the most heavily populated and traveled regions in the state.  The average daily vehicle count on Interstate 5 exceeds 190,000 in Pierce County and 120,000 in Thurston County.  In addition to the scenic, natural beauty, notable sites include the two bridges spanning the Tacoma Narrows, Capital State Forest, Mount Rainier National Park, the Olympia Capitol Campus, Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), and the Tacoma Dome.

Key Measurements and Statistics

In comparison to 2020, the year 2021 showed a slight increase in traffic volume during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Personnel in District 1 continued to follow necessary safety protocols while prioritizing collision causing violations and removing impaired drivers from the roadway.

In 2021, District 1 troopers and sergeants:

Successes of 2021

After the year 2020 brought a seismic shift to all of our lives, we entered 2021 hoping for a rebound into normalcy.  But the year 2021 continued to deliver ongoing challenges for District 1 personnel, presenting not just pandemic-related difficulties, but also staffing shortages and adjustments associated with legislative changes.  Despite these ongoing challenges our district personnel did an outstanding job maintaining a healthy environment and providing law enforcement activities focused on keeping our roadways safe.

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) construction projects continue to impact commuters traveling in Pierce and Thurston County on the Interstate and State Routes.  These projects include the new Interstate 5 Bridge and State Route 99 roundabout, Mounts Rd to Center Drive Auxiliary Lane extension, replacement of luminaires on Interstate 5, and construction on northbound State Route 167 between Puyallup and Auburn.  District 1 personnel conducted numerous emphasis patrols in these construction zones focusing on collision causing violations.

Additional Information and Resources

For those interested in a career with the Washington State Patrol, please visit us at https://wsp.wa.gov/careers-with-wsp/.

We also encourage you to follow our District 1 PIO Trooper Rob Reyer at https://twitter.com/wspd1pio.