Overview
District 8 provides services to Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Kitsap, Mason, Pacific, and Wahkiakum counties. There are five military installations throughout the district as well as four Washington State Ferry terminals. Detachment offices are located in Bremerton, Hoquiam, Port Angeles, Naselle, and Shelton with an outpost office to serve the Forks community. Home to the world’s largest floating bridge, District 8 also includes Olympic National Park, ocean beaches, rainforests, glacier and snowcapped peaks.
Providing an assortment of law enforcement services with more than 130 employees, District 8 services nearly 3,000 miles of state routes. Putting the right resource in the right place at the right time, the district utilizes highly trained collision investigators, narcotics K9 detection, SWAT, crisis negotiators, the aggressive driver apprehension team, motorcycle trained troopers, and rapid deployment force trained troopers to ensure the district’s 600,000 citizens have a safe highway to travel. In addition, District 8 provides traffic law enforcement, motorist assist, terrorism prevention, and quality investigations.
Key Measurements and Statistics
In 2021, District 8 navigated the employee safety concerns of the COVID-19 pandemic, while still providing community safety efforts through traffic law enforcement.
During the early stages of the pandemic, employees were encouraged to remain visible, take action and intervene on dangerous driving or criminal activity, while educating and engaging the community for observance of the Governor’s COVID-19 directions.
Traffic volumes were notably lower throughout the district with noteworthy population reductions in seasonal and tourist-based Pacific Ocean communities.
Successes of 2021
District 8 previously had lost a detachment which resulted in additional work for the troopers, and no interactions with their supervisors; however, the district had successfully implemented a plan that resulted in the return of the fourth detachment in the Bremerton area. This allowed first-line supervisors to work with each detachment and work alongside their troopers. The active participation of supervisors allowed for greater success with high-risk low volume events such as; pursuits, use of force, and complaints.
During 2021, District 8 worked with local chapters for the ACLU. District 8 personnel attended ACLU sponsored events and answered questions and concerns.
While there was a decrease in commissioned personnel in the district, the District 8 and District 1 Command Staff developed a plan and implemented a schedule that would provide additional law enforcement coverage in both districts. This plan has been successful in ensuring both districts provide public safety to the citizens.
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/.
Follow District 8 on social medial platforms; Twitter – @wspd8pio and Instagram – @wastatepatrol_d8.