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District 1· Problem Oriented Public Safety
The State Patrol’s style of community policing is called Problem Oriented Public Safety, or POPS. The foundation of POPS is based on a philosophy of taking the concerns of the motoring public by addressing persistent problems. When a problem is identified by a citizen, trooper, or anyone with a concern, the POPS trooper works with other agencies and groups to develop the best achievable solution to address the origin of the problem. Solutions to various problems may range from simply educating the public to major construction projects.
Projects and Successes
- With the Instant Tow Program, tow trucks are dispatched simultaneously
with responding troopers to clear blocking disabled and blocking
collisions in the following areas…
- Interstate 5 from State Route 512 to Port of Tacoma
- State Route 16 from Interstate 5 to the Tacoma Narrows Bridge
- An updated radio procedure was developed in District 1 to streamline
the radio traffic by troopers requesting data from Tacoma Communications
in order to facilitate communication between patrol units in
the field and dispatchers.
- A Drug Recognition Expert (DRE)/Standard Field Sobriety Test
(SFST) Orientation was implemented to educate local law enforcement
officers and Washington State Patrol troopers about the role
of Drug Recognition Experts, their levels and areas of expertise,
and the criteria and protocol for requesting them to provide
assistance.
- Serious Collision Impaired Driver Testing is a program to ensure
Drug Recognition Experts are requested to respond to the scene
of all serious injury or fatality collisions where the causing
driver survived and may be impaired.
- The Washington State Patrol and Washington State Department
of Transportation are working together to redesign the acceleration
ramp to southbound State Route 101 from Black Lake Boulevard
to prevent vehicles from merging into traffic before the end
of the ramp. By merging too soon, drivers create a hazardous
situation which can result in collisions or road rage/aggressive
driving incidents.
- To deter road rage/aggressive driving confrontations and prevent
hazardous situations on State Route 167, at 66th Avenue East,
the Washington State Patrol and Washington State Department of
Transportation are working together to prohibit traffic from
using the two-way left turn lane as a routine lane of travel.
- A recovery process is being developed to make the DUI offender
accountable for the cost of processing time incurred by arresting
officers.
- Creation of a catalogued library of resources including lesson
plans, video tapes, and PowerPoint presentations for Speakers
Panel officers to use when providing safety training and presentations
to community groups. The library of information was previously
disorganized and time-consuming for officers to locate material
to give safety talks.
- The Time and Activity System (TAS) is one of the administrative
sub-systems in the Washington State Patrol's Computer On-line
Patrol System. TAS supports the operation and administration
of the Washington State Patrol by providing management personnel
with information regarding employee time accountability for payroll;
deployment and performance statistics; fund accountability; contract,
personnel, and mileage costs; and assistance provided to local
governments. Statistics drawn from recorded activity are vital
in determining the agency's progress in enforcement efforts.
A project has been initiated in District 1 to ensure timely submission
so information can be efficiently and quickly retrieved and utilized.
- A project has been implemented to respond to the concerns of
citizens and the school districts about the location of a specific
bus stop on State Route 162 (Sumner/Orting Highway).
- Enhanced DUI and speed enforcement in District 1 supports the
Washington Traffic Safety Commission's "Drive Hammered, Get Nailed" program,
which dedicated extra emphasis patrols from November through
December 2002 to targeting impaired driver and speeders.
- District 1 established emphasis patrols in Washington State
Department of Transportation construction zones to enhance the
safety of WSDOT crews by providing increased visibility and targeting
core mission strategies such as DUI, speed, and aggressive driving.
The project was initiated by the motorcycle detachment. The motorcycle
has proven to be a valuable tool to use in work zone enforcement
due to its maneuverability and versatility.
POPS Coordinator
- Lieutenant Blaine Gunkel
2502 112th St. E - Tacoma WA 98445-5104
Phone: (253) 538-3104 - Fax: (253) 538-3270
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