Captain Jason Berry
Government and Media Relations
(360) 596-4010 – office
(360) 596-4015 – fax
http://www.wsp.wa.gov
*** For Immediate Release***
Date:
November 22, 2010
Contact:
Dan Coon
Phone:
(360) 596-4012
E-mail:
dan.coon@wsp.wa.gov
WSP Wins Award for Healthy Living From the Washington Health Foundation
(Olympia) The Washington State Patrol (WSP) has been awarded the 2010 Heroes of Health, Healthy Living Award by the Washington Health Foundation (WHF). The award is given to organizations that have continually demonstrated the importance of personal responsibility in improving one’s health. The WSP received this award because they won the Governor’s Health Bowl for the third year in a row. The Governor’s Health Bowl is a competition among government agencies to promote healthy living through exercise and fitness.
“The men and women of the Washington State Patrol generated more than 200,000 miles of health during the 2010 Governor’s Health Bowl. That is an extraordinary accomplishment, and one that earned that State Patrol our coveted Heroes of Health Healthy Living Award. WSP’s efforts are a model for other organizations to follow, and embody the true spirit of our goal to make Washington the Healthiest State in the Nation.” –Greg Vigdor, Washington Health Foundation President and CEO.
For the past six years, the WSP has been a leading participant in the Governor’s Health Bowl, an annual six-week health challenge. The State Patrol logged 233,729 health miles during the 2010 competition. Health miles are awarded based on the amount of physical activity an employee does per day.
WSP Chief John R. Batiste is proud that the winning teams included many employees who are not troopers. “It’s no surprise that troopers would have a high level of fitness,” Batiste said. “It’s terrific to see those on the civilian side of the agency also getting and staying in shape.”
WSP is made up of about 50% civilian employees, including dispatchers, the crime lab, and the fire marshal’s office. “Fit, healthy employees are good for the agency regardless of their job description. They’re more productive, use less sick time, and can slow the increase in health insurance premiums,” Batiste added.
The Governor’s Health Bowl is a statewide health and fitness challenge sponsored by the Washington Health Foundation, Washington Wellness and Governor Chris Gregoire, as part of WHF’s Healthiest State in the Nation Campaign.