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The dedicated employees in the Technical Services Bureau form the backbone of support services and technical systems that Washington State Patrol troopers and all other criminal justice officials use thousands of times every day in protecting the citizens of Washington State. The importance of these services and systems cannot be overstated. Without them, the criminal justice system simply could not function. The professional expertise of the staff in the Technical Services Bureau significantly contributes to the Washington State Patrol being considered among the top law enforcement agencies in the United States.

Divisions reporting to the bureau include the Communications Division, Electronic Services Division, Human Resource Division, Information Technology Division, Property Management Division, Risk Management Division and the Training Division.

Communications Division

The Communications Division operates a 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year statewide emergency communications system, which includes eight centers. The division provides emergency dispatch services for mobile units of the Washington State Patrol (WSP), Department of Fish and Wildlife, Liquor Control Board, Department of Transportation, State Parks, and other state and federal agencies.

For additional information on Washington State Patrol Communications Officers, visit our Communications Careers page.

Electronic Services Division

The Electronic Services Division (ESD) consists of two major sections: Technology Engineering and Field Support.

Technology Engineering Section

The section provides the Washington State Patrol with engineering skills in communication, electronic, networking, analog, and digital designs.

Field Support Section

The section is responsible for the repair and maintenance of all Washington State Patrol communications equipment and systems, consisting of portable radio, mobile radio, mobile computer systems, speed-measuring devices, communications center radio, and vehicle installations.

Human Resource Division

The Human Resource Division (HRD) provides human resource services to Washington State Patrol employees, the agency, and the public. HRD processes trooper applications and maintains eligibility lists in accordance with Field Operations Bureau staffing needs. HRD also conducts position reviews and promotional examinations.

For additional information about job opportunities and career paths with the Washington State Patrol, please see our Employment page.

Information Technology Division

The Information Technology Division (ITD) is a customer-oriented division which supports the Washington State Patrol in evaluating new software, writing/developing highly complex programs, and providing project managers to manage information technology. This section includes a 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week operation to monitor mission-critical programs and to provide computer customer support for all of the State Patrol.

• Learn more about the WSP partnership in the
  Justice Information Network (JIN)
  
  
• Learn more about the WSP partnership in the
  Electronic Traffic Information Processing (eTRIP)
  

Property Management Division

The Property Management Division is responsible for providing comprehensive facilities management through the capital and operating budget process. The Property Management Division consists of the Fleet Section, the Facilities Section, and the Supply Section.

Fleet Section

The Fleet Section acquires, outfits, and maintains patrol vehicles and related emergency equipment for the agency. In addition, Fleet Section personnel manage a statewide replacement and retirement schedule for all vehicles.

Facilities Section

The Facilities Section is responsible for the requisition, construction, maintenance, and disposal of all departmental facilities. For example, they oversee detachment office design and construction, electronic scale design and installation, fuel tank upgrades, underground storage tank monitoring and replacement, and storage facilities construction and equipping.

Supply Section

The Supply Section provides in-depth materials management through acquisition, asset accountability, and the disposal of purchased and stored supplies. The Section is also responsible for ordering and issuing equipment and uniform items for the agency.

Risk Management Division

The Risk Management Division (RMD), Technical Services Bureau, is comprised of the Administrative Services Section, Audit Section, Public Disclosure Section, and the Strategic Planning and Performance Section. Reporting directly to the Chief of the Washington State Patrol (WSP) on all internal audit activities, the division develops strategies and provides analysis and direction to the department on all risk management issues. It also oversees and manages department records retention issues and public disclosure requests. Providing document management services, conducting audits and administering property and evidence handling policies, and ensuring compliance with state mandates and Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) standards completes its purview.

RMD is the department’s contact regarding torts and litigation and works closely with the Attorney General’s Office. It is responsible for the additional following risk management duties:

• Serve as the department’s representative on tort evaluation and mediation teams.
• Oversight of the required, annual risk assessment and analysis process.
• Providing tort claim forms to citizens upon request.
• Department contact for WSP vehicle claims with the WSDOT Risk Management adjusters.
• Serve as a liaison and coordinate with agency personnel from the Office of Risk Management, Division of Risk Management; the Department of Transportation Claims Administration; and the Attorney General’s Office, ensuring that information regarding claims/suits is supplied in a timely and thorough manner.
• Office of Financial Management Incident form management and serve as WSP’s contact with the Office of Financial Management’s Office of Risk Management.
• Serve as WSP’s contact with statewide committees for risk management.
• Process Requests for Individual Defense for department employees.
• Review and make recommendations on all liability settlements and judgments against the department.
• Review purchases of insurance to protect facilities, equipment, and any classes of officers, employees, or for other persons performing services for the Washington State Patrol.

Administrative Services

The Administrative Services Section is responsible for the department’s document management program, publications design, printing and copying services, awards production, publishing the Daily Bulletin, and the Governor’s Plain Talk Initiative. The section also oversees the front desk and the manager is the liaison with the State Printer (and contracted vendors) and Consolidated Mail Services.

Audit Section

The Division Commander reports directly to the Chief on all internal audit matters. All audits are conducted in accordance with the Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing as set forth by The Institute of Internal Auditing, and in conformance with Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (Yellow Book) published by the Comptroller General of the United States. Evidence audits ensure that all districts and divisions that collect, store, or evaluate property and evidence maintain the high standards set by the department, the Office of Financial Management, and CALEA.

Public Disclosure Section

The Public Disclosure Section coordinates public records requests for the department as well as manages the WSP Unique Records Retention Schedule, acting as liaison between our department and the Secretary of State’s office. The section is also responsible for tracking all tort claims filed against the WSP. Its responsibilities require it to work closely with the Attorney General’s Office and the Office of Financial Management, Risk Management Division.

Strategic Planning and Performance Section

The Strategic Planning and Performance Section (SPP) facilitates change for internal and external customers through policy development, process improvement, program coordination, planning support, and information analysis. The section provides planning and policy support to all divisions of the department, which includes the following primary services and resources: strategic planning, Government Management Accountability and Performance, Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Washington State Quality Award, Commute Trip Reduction, and regulation manuals.

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