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District 6· 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.
Major Programs and Services:
- District 6 has led local efforts to establish child restraint inspection teams and organize child restraint safety clinics in Wenatchee, Ellensburg, Okanogan, and the Columbia Basin. The goal of the safety teams is to make the public more aware of child restraint issues such as the proper placement and adjustment of child safety seats within the vehicle as well as the correct steps when placing the child in the seat. This is done through organized car seat inspection clinics as well as educational seminars and public training forums. More than 98% of the seats inspected are improperly installed. In addition, approximately 10% either no longer meet safety requirements or have life-threatening recalls.
- It is because of these facts that the safety teams have successfully provided more than 635 child seats (obtained by grants from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission and the Safety Restraint Coalition) to families that would otherwise not have been able to afford the protection. For more information concerning child passenger safety, contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) at www.nhtsa.dot.gov or the Washington State Safety Restraint Coalition at wssrc@bigfoot.com.
- Two traffic safety task forces have been established: The Chelan/Douglas Traffic Safety Task Force and the Central Basin Traffic Safety Task Force. Both task forces are comprised of representatives from a diverse group of law enforcement agencies who combine their resources and select problem areas where their joint efforts will improve public safety.
- Beginning in 2001, Ellensburg detachment personnel partnered with other local agencies and put on the "Every Fifteen Minutes" program in Ellensburg high schools shortly before prom and graduation. The program teaches high school students about DUI and seat belt safety by emphasizing the point that a person their age dies every 15 minutes in traffic collisions. In addition to Ellensburg, the Okanogan and Grant County detachments have also participated in the program.
POPS Coordinator
- Lieutenant Kandi Patrick
2822 Euclid Avenue - Wenatchee WA 98801-5916
Phone: (509) 665-4013 - Fax: (509) 665-4007
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