The Department of Commerce provides federal Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) funds to the Investigative Assistance Division of the Washington State Patrol to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the multi-jurisdictional task force program.  Previous program evaluations conducted by Commerce researchers have proven the benefit of WSP’s participation, specifically related to its ability to:

1. Provide trained supervisors and detectives to task forces,
2. Facilitate the exchange of intelligence between task forces,
3. Provide technical assistance and investigative coordination,
4. Assist in monitoring and assessing task force performance; and to
5. Coordinate related training for task force personnel.

Since the inception of the task forces, WSP has provided supervisors to 11 task forces, and investigators to 16.  Like the task forces, WSP received successive yearly reductions in JAG funding, which substantially reduced its ability to participate directly.  WSP did not receive an enhancement of general funds in 2006 and, as a result, there are now far fewer WSP personnel assigned to task forces. WSP supervisors are currently assigned to only 6 of the 20.

WSP Program Contact:
Lt. Rich Wiley
Investigative Assistance Division
(509) 353-2964