History

106 commissioned personnel left the agency and by December the agency had 160 commissioned personnel vacancies. The fire season in 2015 proved to be even worse than the 2014 fire season. The Fire Mobilization Plan was authorized a record 30 times, for fires in 15 counties. A total of 867,429..Read More

The Fire Training Academy became its own Division within the Fire Protection Bureau. Lean was implemented in Washington State Agencies, after Governor Jay Inslee signed an executive order urging state agencies to improve services, outcomes and performances of state government; and created the Results Washington commission. On May 23, the..Read More

WSP joined forces with Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife to create a joint Chaplaincy Program. In April, Chaplain Mike Neil was selected as the WSP Senior Chaplain. In May, Washington State was recognized as having the third best safety rating for trucks in the country. Due to budget..Read More

The first stage of the Fire Training Academy’s Capital Development Plan was completed in July with the completion of a forty-bed, two story dormitory. In November, the Forensic Laboratory Services Bureau received international accreditation from the American Society of Crime Lab Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board for their breath alcohol program. The..Read More

The IACP named the WSP for the 2006 National Law Enforcement Challenge Award, “Best Law Enforcement Agency of its Size”. The WSP Commercial Vehicle Division received the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Leadership Award.

The Vessel and Terminal Security Division was created, which provides security for the Washington State Ferry system. Chief John R. Batiste was appointed Chief of the WSP by Governor Christine Gregoire.

The “Tom Neff Industrial Park” was completed in Tumwater to house WSP Fleet, Supply and Property Management Divisions. On February 20, the El Protector program began. This program was implemented to address the increasing concern of Hispanic/Latino-surnamed drivers being over represented in fatal and felony collisions in the Mid-Columbia Valley...Read More

The Patrol began having Strategic Advancement Forums (SAF) to help increase accountability among employees. Strategic planning was integrated with POPS. By integrating long range planning with quality business practices, and developing partnerships, the WSP is ensuring that the service needs of Washington’s citizens are being met.

A Problem Oriented Public Safety (POPS) philosophy was initiated by the agency, following the award of a Community Oriented Policing grand from the federal government. The award added 72 trained POPS officers to the patrol over a three year period. POPS signaled the beginning of a new problem-solving philosophy that..Read More

Chief Annette Sandberg was the first woman appointed to head a state law enforcement agency. She was also the youngest of either gender when she was appointed in April, at the age of 33. The State Fire Marshal’s Office joined the agency when the Legislature transferred the Fire Protection Services..Read More

The Patrol was responsible for the security of 2,500 athletes when the Goodwill Games came to Washington.

The Patrol was the fourth state to receive the honor of receiving national accreditation through CALEA. Portable pre-breath test instruments (PBTs) were issued to Troopers. The WSP Communication Centers started answering 911 calls statewide.

The WSP Athletic Association was formed.

The Washington State Patrol Memorial Foundation was created as a non-profit charitable organization to provide assistance to employees in times of need, including the children of WSP officers killed in the line of duty.

The “Safety Education Program” was cut due to lack of funding. Washington Legislatures approved the creation of the WSP Crime Laboratory system. One year later four more crime laboratories were added, including Tacoma, Marysville, Kelso and Kennewick.

A department physiologist was hired to help those who had personal need.

The Identification and Criminal History Section was established, with two full service crime laboratories set up a year later in Seattle and Spokane.

The Vehicle Identification Section began with eight men, assigned to wrecker yard inspections, and a year later operations were expanded to the inspection of all (except brand new) vehicles first licensed in the state. The section later became known as the Auto Theft Section.

The Drug Control Assistance Unit was created.

A statewide responsibility for aircraft registration was given to the Aviation Division, and a year later moved to the Olympia Airport from Boeing Field.

District 7 was formed, taking the northern counties from District 2, with its headquarters in Everett.

Headquarters for the Patrol moved into the General Administration Building in Olympia. Badge insignias started appearing on patrol car doors, and have stayed true to the original design with a navy bolt with a black and white replica of the badge.

WSP was awarded the National Safety Councils Grand Award, being recognized as one of the finest law enforcement organizations in the nation.

Four door sedans began to replace the old “paddy wagons”. The sedans came with improved police equipment, special engines, transmissions and ready for high speed rear ends.

The first WSP academy opened in the old Navy bachelor officers’ quarters near the Shelton Airport.

Safety Education, which had been started in 1929, was formalized with the formation of the Public Relations Division, staffed by seven men. The Patrol’s first radio station (or communications center) was installed in Olympia.

District 5 was established, separating some of the southern counties from District 1, with headquarters in Vancouver.

The state was divided into four Patrol districts, with a Captain in charge of each district. District 1, with headquarters in Tacoma consisted of 14 counties, including all of Southwest Washington and the Olympic Peninsula. District 2, with headquarters in Seattle, consisted of six northwest counties. District 3, with headquarters..Read More

Chief Cole changed the uniform color from grey to forest green and added black trim, a Sam Brown belt, and “cap” style hat.

Chief William Cole was appointed the first Chief of the Washington State Highway Patrol. Prior to Chief Cole’s appointment by Governor Roland H. Hartley, Ms. Helen Shaw assumed the duties of Chief for a few weeks.

The first Washington State Highway Patrol Officers were sworn in. They were Harold Lakeburg, Harry Harkins, Hentry Shunk, William Clark, Eugene Russell, and George Potter. The officers first vehicles were Indian Motorcycles.