Overview
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
In 2021, District 3 troopers:
- Made 67,982 contacts
- Answered 20,984 calls for service
- Assisted 25,590 motorists
- Investigated 3,514 collisions
- Arrested 818 impaired drivers
District 3 troopers averaged 1,416 violators contacted per trooper. This is down 15.3 percent from 2020.
District 3 troopers averaged 73 collision investigations per trooper. This is up 28.7 percent from 2020.
The Blake Decision has impacted our criminal interdiction efforts but we will continue to review and assess our strategies to ensure compliance with the changing laws while keeping our roadways safe and protecting people’s rights.
Successes of 2021
On April 9, 2021, the WSP resumed proactive patrols on state routes within the Yakama Nation Reservation. Retrocession is a process of returning partial civil and criminal jurisdiction to the Yakama Nation. Certain governmental rights and responsibilities between the federal, state, and tribal governments were affected, and had led to a suspension of some active patrolling by the state while various government bodies worked out specific service plans.
Though active patrolling was paused in 2016 while state, federal, and tribal governments worked out the legal and logistical terms of retrocession and service, the WSP has maintained steady emergency response service. Since April of 2016, WSP responded to 4,368 calls for service, investigated 1,034 collisions, 580 public assists, as well as approximately 2,000 investigatory assists to the Yakama Nation Tribal Police and Yakima County Sheriff’s Office on these stretches of highway.
Collaboration between the WSP, the Yakama Nation Tribal Council and Attorney’s General’s Office had occurred in working through the complexities of policing and partnership under retrocession guidelines.
District 3 is urging motorists to drive safely, and to slow down and move over when emergency vehicles are on the shoulder, including troopers, deputies, and tribal authorities responding to public safety and roadway needs. Traffic safety is a shared responsibility, and WSP appreciates the leadership and partnership with the Yakama Nation and the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office that will lead to safer roads for all.
Tri Cities Water Follies – The event was held on July 23-25, 2021. There were no fatalities reported. With the support of Aviation, the district had:
- 101 contacts
- 6 Commercial Motor Vehicle offenses
- 43 aggressive drivers
Moxee Hop Festival – The event was held on August 6-7, 2021. There were no fatalities reported. With the support of Aviation, the district had:
- 50 stops
- 8 aggressive drivers cited
Kennewick – Troopers participated in the 9/11 Memorial with Renegade Classics Motorcycle Shop in Pasco at Southridge High School.
Troopers participated in the annual “Corvettes on Columbia” car show event that supports the Make a Wish Foundation. Troopers were asked to be judges for the “Show and Shine” competition. The event raised $145,000.
Yakima – Troopers participated in “BBQ with a Cop” at The Range in Yakima to promote law enforcement in the community.
El Protector and District 3 Recruiter /Public Information Officer (PIO) – Trooper Mosqueda has worked with District 8 – Bremerton to develop an El Protector Program in their area. The key to this development is building relationships with allied agencies, businesses, and major employers.
The District 3 PIO Trooper Thorson has been active on social media. He currently utilize social media platforms; Twitter, Facebook, and local news media for the public and creates an internal newsletter, “The Pulse,” to keep the district informed of current events and statistics.
Planning for 2022
Messaging on social media platforms allows the district to constantly alert drivers of the changing weather conditions, roadway blockages, and delays. The district continues to plan and prepare for the 2022 Water Follies and Hop Fest events.
Amazon, Inc. has confirmed that it will open two distribution centers, each more than 1 million square feet, on South Road 40 East, north of Sacajawea State Park in Pasco. The district anticipate upwards of 1,500 commercial vehicles accessing the new facility daily, starting as early as midyear-2022. This will create added congestion requiring roadway improvements near State Route 12. The WSP and Washington State Department of Transportation are working in collaboration regarding traffic impacts.
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