June 8, 1921, was the date legislation authorized the appointment of highway police with the power of peace officers. The first six patrolmen were commissioned September 1, 1921. The initial appropriation for maintenance of the motorcycle patrol was $70,000.

The first two Highway Patrol directors were called supervisors. The original issue was a badge, cap emblem, and a gun. It wasn't until 1924 that every patrolman became uniformed.

In 1925, the first Chief, William Cole, was appointed and by 1927, the Patrol soon bought its first "paddy wagon" -- a Ford panel delivery truck, which was assigned to the major mountain highway at Snoqualmie Pass.

In 1933, the Legislature acknowledged the need for a police organization that was mobile and could be concentrated immediately at any place in the state where the public safety was endangered. The Highway Patrol Division officially became known as the Washington State Patrol, which had been given full police powers. However, the police powers were not to be used unless ordered by the Governor or requested by other law enforcement agencies. The State Patrol was placed directly under the Governor, who was authorized to appoint the Chief.

Communications were haphazard, with patrolmen receiving some of their orders through the mail, some from county sheriffs, and some from their supervisors by telephone. The first radio was installed on a motorcycle in the Vancouver area in 1933. Operating on a City of Portland (Oregon) Police frequency, the unit gave accident and traffic information.

While radio communications had a brilliant future, motorcycles were on their way out by 1933. Light, fast automobiles of the panel delivery type, which could be used as a combination patrol car, mobile jail, and ambulance, were proving much more versatile for all-weather work than the motorcycle.

As the uniform was designed and redesigned, one apparel feature was introduced in 1937 that remains to this day -- the bow tie, unique in law enforcement. Originally red, the bow tie was changed to black after a couple of years and has remained a fashion constant as the WSP uniform evolved to its present crisp blue shirt with dark blue pocket flaps, French blue pants striped with dark blue, and royal blue campaign hat.

The Motor Vehicle Inspection Division and Weight Division, created in 1943, were responsible for checking trucks for size, weight, and license violations. Both divisions previously were under the Department of Highways.

It was in 1943 that the Patrol set up its own communications network, completing the installation of two-way sets in all vehicles. Then, in 1947, the Patrol gained its own training center in the former Navy bachelor officers' quarters near the Shelton Airport.

In 1949, the Patrol began to trade away the "paddy wagons" in favor of four-door sedans, with improved police equipment and special engines, transmissions, and high-speed rear ends.

The Patrol began to hire civilian weighmasters in 1955 to work stationary and portable scales. Most of the troopers working weight control in the field were later transferred to traffic duty. The Weight Control Division is now known as the Commercial Vehicle Division.

By the late 1950s, the Patrol began to phase in its current patrol car door design, a diagonal royal blue spear and black and white badge replica.

By 1968, the State Patrol had converted all patrol vehicles to white. The new WSP training academy was built on 23 acres near the existing facility. The Patrol's drive course was constructed on 165 acres adjacent to the Academy and is considered one of the finest in the country.

The Investigative Assistance Division (IAD) was established in 1973, including the Narcotics Section, Organized Crime Intelligence Unit, Missing Children Clearinghouse, and a Clandestine Laboratory Response Team. The Investigative Assistance Division is also the law enforcement contact with Interpol for the state of Washington.

The Identification and Criminal History Section was established in 1974, and two full-service crime laboratories were set up in 1975, in Seattle and Spokane.

The first female troopers were hired by the Patrol in 1975.

In 1981, four more crime laboratories were added in Tacoma, Marysville, Kelso, and Kennewick.

In 1983, an entirely new WACIC (Washington Crime Information Center) data base was brought on-line, providing faster response time as well as access to the FBI's National Crime Information Center computer system and direct entry of missing adults and runaway children.

In 1989, the Legislature passed a bill to incorporate a DNA typing laboratory into the existing Seattle Crime Lab, staffed by specially trained personnel. This also helped in the creation of a DNA data bank to aid future investigations.

The Washington State Patrol gained international recognition for its development of the Mobile Computer Network (MCN), an innovative system linking laptop computers in patrol cars with satellite and land-based radio communication technology. The MCN became operational in 1991.

Chief Annette Sandberg is the first woman to head a state law enforcement agency. She also may have been the youngest of either gender when she was appointed in April 1995 at the age of 33.

The State Fire Marshal's Office joined the agency when the Legislature transferred the Fire Protection Services to the Patrol in July 1995.

In the spring of 1996, commercial vehicle enforcement officers (CVEOs) began special training, which included firearms. CVEOs are being armed for the first time in more than 20 years, when the last of the troopers assigned to weight control returned to traffic duty.

The Problem Oriented Public Safety (POPS) philosophy was initiated by the agency in 1997, following the award of a Community Oriented Policing grant from the federal government. The award added 72 trained POPS officers to the Patrol over the ensuing three years.

POPS signaled the beginning of a new problem-solving philosophy that fosters the development of partnerships among the WSP, citizens, and other stakeholders, who together help solve public safety problems in communities throughout the state. The department made a commitment to bring POPS and Governor Gary Locke's Quality Improvement Initiative together and to train all employees in this new philosophy of public service.

The Criminal Records Division launched a new Web site in January of 1998 called WATCH (Washington Access To Criminal History), where the public can obtain criminal history information online.

In May of 1998, the Patrol published a five-year strategic plan after a year-long effort. As part of this, all organizational units of the department will develop operational plans and performance measures that support the goals of the strategic plan.