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2021 Annual Report: District 3

Trooper Woodside with K-9 Brakken at a community outreach event at the ‘The Range’ in Yakima.
Trooper Woodside with K-9 Brakken at a community outreach event at the ‘The Range’ in Yakima.
Columbia Cred - El Protector community engagement discussion.
Columbia Cred - El Protector community engagement discussion.
Double fatality car vs. tractor trailer collision investigation, where the vehicle failed to stop at a red light at the intersection of State Route 395 at Foster Wells.
Double fatality car vs. tractor trailer collision investigation, where the vehicle failed to stop at a red light at the intersection of State Route 395 at Foster Wells.
El Protector Trooper Mosqueda partnering with Radio Show LaRaza, alongside Trooper Mata and Trooper Cadet Gomez.
El Protector Trooper Mosqueda partnering with Radio Show LaRaza, alongside Trooper Mata and Trooper Cadet Gomez.

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 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 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

Yakama Nation Agreement – The Washington State Patrol (WSP) and U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs have agreed on a plan to renew patrols on state routes on Yakama Nation reservation lands.

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

Contact us

Mailing Address
Washington State Patrol
PO Box 42600
Olympia, WA 98504

Physical Address
Washington State Patrol
Helen Sommers Building
106 11th Avenue SW
Olympia, WA 98501

Wsp accessibility

The Washington State Patrol is firmly committed to providing an environment that provides the public fair and equal treatment and equal access to its benefits, programs and services as required by state and federal laws. If you require reasonable accommodation under the American with Disabilities Act, or would like to file a grievance please click on the following link:  WSP Public Accessibility and Grievance Process

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