Agency: 225 - Washington State Patrol

Pilots in the Aviation Section provide a rapid air response to citizen reports of possible drunk drivers and conduct proactive aerial traffic enforcement patrols to locate, track, and coordinate the apprehension of impaired, reckless, and aggressive drivers in support of Target Zero goals. Pilots also provide assistance to agency staff and local jurisdictions with drug enforcement, search and rescue, homeland security, natural disasters, and aerial surveillance. The section facilitates the transport of donor organs and blood supplies in medical emergencies. The section also provides air transportation for the Governor and the Lieutenant Governor.

Agency Administration provides the services that support effective direction and management of the agency. These services include overall management and leadership, strategic policy development and research, risk management and government relations. It also includes the core services of human resources, training, facility and fleet management, purchasing/inventory, budgeting, accounting, contracting and information technology support. Administration costs are supported by all programs and fund sources, through a combination of direct appropriation and indirect charges and represent those management activities that guide the entire agency in achieving its public safety mission.

The Collision Records Section is the repository for statewide officer and civilian collision reports, compiling statistical data for the Washington State departments of Transportation and Licensing. The section provides copies of the Police Traffic Collision Report and the Vehicle Collision Report to eligible persons, upon application and submission of a non-refundable fee to process the application.

This activity includes the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Section, Motor Carrier Safety Assistance and New Entrants Programs, School Bus Inspection Program, Compliance and Review Section, Tow Truck Inspection Unit, and Equipment and Standards Review. These programs promote the safe travel of commercial vehicles and school buses on Washington State highways through education, technical assistance, and enforcement activities. This activity also includes participation on the Fuel Tax Evasion Task Force, which works to educate the public and industry on the fuel tax laws; investigates suspected fuel tax evasion; and pursues prosecution of fuel tax evaders.

The Washington State Patrol Crime Laboratory Division operates full-service crime laboratories in Seattle, Tacoma, Marysville, Spokane, Vancouver, and limited-service crime laboratories in Kennewick, Tumwater and the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) Laboratory in Seattle. The laboratories provide forensic services for criminal justice agencies within the state and are accredited through the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD). Forensic laboratory services include biochemistry of body fluids; examination of firearms/toolmarks; microanalysis of trace evidence; analysis of physical evidence; chemical analysis of evidence and controlled substances; examination of questioned documents; latent fingerprint identification; crime scene assistance; clandestine laboratory assistance; and training for criminal justice agencies.

This activity includes the management and operation of the statewide law enforcement telecommunications system, A Central Computerized Enforcement Service System (ACCESS), and the Washington Crime Information Center (WACIC). ACCESS provides telecommunications linkage to law enforcement, criminal justice agencies, and associated state databases. It allows contact with agencies nationwide through the National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System and access to National Crime Information Center files. The WACIC is a computerized database of stolen property, wanted persons, missing persons, and other information of interest to law enforcement officers and criminal justice agencies throughout the state. The Identification and Criminal History Section is the repository for statewide fingerprint-based criminal history record information and sex/kidnapping offender registration. Other services include technical fingerprint assistance and help in identifying unknown persons.

This activity provides security for the Governor, the Governor's family, and under limited circumstances, the Lieutenant Governor. Executive Protection personnel also provide law enforcement and visitor security services at the Capitol Campus. Executive Services Section staff also provide protection and services for the Department of Labor and Industries.

This activity includes administration of the Fire Protection Bureau and the All Risk Mobilization program. Per statute, the Fire Protection Bureau has the critical responsibility to prevent the loss of life and property for the citizens across the state. Primary activities include providing critical response resources to local jurisdictions facing extraordinary emergency incidents such as wildland fires; developing, managing and updating the Mobilization Plan (Plan); and implementing the Plan during large scale emergencies. Implementing the Plan includes receiving, reviewing and authorizing requests for mobilization, coordinating the dispatch of resources, tracking the use of resources for payments, making the payments, and auditing the payments to ensure all funds were used appropriately. Plan implementation also requires selected personnel to be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Highway Traffic Enforcement includes field force commissioned officers who patrol state highways in eight districts across Washington State. Troopers are responsible for enforcing traffic laws, investigating collisions, assisting motorists, and providing a safe motoring environment on over 17,500 miles of state highway. This activity also includes oversight of the Aviation Section, Canine Unit, Explosives Unit and the Washington State Patrol Honor Guard.

The Impaired Driving activity includes the Breath Test and Drug Evaluation and Classification Programs of the Washington State Patrol. The Breath Test Program manages and maintains all evidentiary breath-testing instruments in the state and provides all re-certification training. The section provides statistical data and analysis related to driving under the influence (DUI) enforcement and provides expert witness testimony on the breath alcohol testing program. Drug recognition experts in the Drug Evaluation and Classification Program are trained to recognize the symptoms of intoxication for seven different categories of drugs, using a 12-step standardized process to identify drug impairment. The State Patrol provides specialized training in these skills to troopers and officers from local law enforcement agencies.

The Investigative Assistance Division provides investigative coordination, support, and training that fosters a collaborative response to criminal activity in Washington State. The Narcotics Section provides ongoing drug investigation training for the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission and local clandestine laboratory teams, monitoring the progress of federally-funded task forces throughout the state. The Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) responds to tactical incidents and clandestine drug labs with highly trained personnel who execute search warrants, arrest suspects, and process evidence for criminal prosecution. The Criminal Intelligence Unit (CIU) provides assistance to criminal justice agencies with complex criminal investigations, as well as training to troopers, sergeants, and local law enforcement agencies on gang enforcement and trends. The Computer Forensics Unit provides technical support and training to criminal justice agencies, and recovers relevant evidence that may exist on computer hard drives and other storage media for use in related criminal and internal investigations.

This activity includes the management and operation of the Missing and Exploited Children Task Force, a multi-agency task force that assists law enforcement, state and federal agencies, and custodial parents or guardians by conducting investigations on missing, abducted, and exploited children through referrals, on-site assistance, case management, and training. The Missing Children Clearinghouse coordinates the exchange of information among law enforcement agencies, citizens, schools, the Department of Social and Health Services, and other interested groups regarding the location and return of missing children. The Missing and Unidentified Persons Unit maintains dental data and other descriptive data on persons reported missing for longer than 30 days and unidentified human remains.

This activity is directed by statute to provide critical fire and life safety programs to prevent the loss of life and property. Activities include delivery of regular and specialized fire service training and certification at the state Fire Training Academy in North Bend as well as training sites across the state. Funding is provided to local jurisdictions to assist with the cost of basic firefighter training. Additional activities include licensing and certifying the fire sprinkler, fireworks and cigarette industries, and conducting appropriate enforcement action; conducting life safety inspections of hospitals, nursing homes, group homes, boarding homes, and child daycare centers; and providing hazardous materials response training and technical assistance to the public and other state agencies.

The Washington State Toxicology Laboratory performs drug and alcohol testing for all coroners, medical examiners, police agencies, prosecuting attorneys, and the Liquor Control Board. The laboratory receives over 8,000 cases each year, of which approximately half are police cases involving driving under the influence (DUI), sexual assaults, and death investigations. The other half is coroner/medical examiner casework that supports counties. Each toxicologist tests about 1,000 samples each year and spends one to two days each week in court testifying in DUI-related cases.

The Criminal Investigation Division conducts investigations into vehicular homicides, vehicular assaults, felony hit-and-run, auto thefts, crimes on the Capitol Campus, and threats against elected officials. It provides investigative follow-up to all felony crimes discovered by uniformed line troopers, allowing troopers to return to their primary traffic enforcement duties. The Washington State Patrol Crime Scene Response Team is a joint effort of the Crime Laboratory Division, the Criminal Investigation Division, and the Identification Section, providing comprehensive investigative services at crime scenes at the request of any law enforcement agency in the state.

Staff in the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Section conduct physical inspections on vehicles that have been rebuilt after being destroyed or declared a total loss by an insurance company. The section also performs physical inspections as required on vehicles reported stolen, homemade vehicles, vehicles without a proper VIN, or in any VIN discrepancy.

The State Patrol operates facilities that are constructed and maintained with funds appropriated from the Transportation Budget. These facilities include district and detachment offices, commercial vehicle weighing and inspection stations, communications centers, microwave and radio tower sites, and a training facility.

The Homeland Security Division provides enhanced security for state ferries and terminals in Washington. A security plan was developed by the Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to comply with the U.S. Coast Guard Security Level 1 and 2 regulatory requirements. In order to meet concerns associated with possible terrorist activities on state ferries and to comply with the WSDOT security plan, the WSP deploys explosive detection canine and handler teams and provides electronic surveillance of public access areas in vessels and terminals.

The Communications Division operates a 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year statewide emergency communications system. There are eight communication centers throughout the state. The division provides emergency dispatch services for the Washington State Patrol and 18 other State, Federal, and Tribal agencies on a contract basis including Department of Fish and Wildlife, Liquor Control Board, State Parks and the U.S. Marshal.