Washington State Patrol

What Washington State Patrol does

Washington State Patrol (WSP) is a state government law enforcement agency established in 1921 and headquartered in Olympia, Washington. As the primary state-level law enforcement body, WSP delivers traffic safety enforcement, criminal investigation support, forensic laboratory services, and fire safety oversight across Washington State through eight district offices, five ports of entry, seven crime laboratories, and the State Fire Marshal's Office. The agency's service portfolio includes the Washington Access to Criminal History (WATCH) system for background checks, VIN inspection scheduling, commercial vehicle enforcement, firearms background checks, missing and exploited children task force operations, DUI and distracted driving enforcement, and the WSP Academy for law enforcement training. Notable specialized programs include El Protector (Spanish-speaking motorist outreach), Safe Place (anti-hate-crime), and the Pro-Equity-Anti-Racism (PEAR) Plan.

WSP's underlying technology stack consists of operational law enforcement systems rather than a unified commercial platform. Core systems include the WATCH criminal history record database (integration-interoperability differentiator), VIN inspection scheduling (ease-of-use differentiator), Crime and Forensic Laboratory Services covering latent prints, toxicology, and DNA analysis (domain specialization differentiator), and an online license fraud reporting system. The agency also operates a public records request portal, AMBER/Silver/Missing Indigenous Persons Alert coordination systems, and a Sexual Assault Kit tracking platform. Infrastructure includes 8 district offices, 5 ports of entry (Bow Hill, Cle Elum, Plymouth, Ridgefield, Spokane), and crime labs distributed across Seattle, Tacoma, Spokane, Vancouver, Marysville, and Olympia to provide geographic coverage statewide.

WSP is funded primarily through Washington State appropriations and federal grants, not commercial revenue. Transaction-based fees are collected for specific services including WATCH criminal history record checks, VIN inspections coordinated through Washington Department of Licensing agents, and commercial vehicle permits/enforcement at ports of entry. Customer segments are exclusively governmental or governmental-adjacent: Washington State residents and motorists (primary), employers and licensing agencies requiring background verification, federal/state/local law enforcement agencies requiring forensic support, and fire service organizations receiving support through the State Fire Marshal's Office. As a public entity, WSP is not a commercial enterprise and has no private shareholders, funding rounds, or M&A activity.

Name

Washington State Patrol

Legal name

Washington State Patrol

Website

https://wsp.wa.gov

Company type

Public

Founded year

1921

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Washington State Patrol is a Washington State government law enforcement agency founded in 1921, headquartered in Olympia. It provides traffic safety enforcement, forensic laboratory services, criminal history records (WATCH), commercial vehicle enforcement, and State Fire Marshal services to Washington residents, businesses, and other law enforcement agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

State Law Enforcement Services

NAICS

Police Protection (922120), Fire Protection (92216)

SIC

Services-Detective, Guard & Armored Car Services (7381)

akta.pro primary industry

Police Services (Patrol, Response & Community Policing) (BPAIAGAA)

Keywords

• Law enforcement services
• Traffic safety enforcement
• Forensic laboratory services
• Criminal history records
• Fire marshal services

Headquarters

HQ city

Olympia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices16 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Safety Services: Core government services funded through state tax revenue and federal grants. Provides law enforcement, traffic safety, forensic services, and emergency response to Washington State residents.
2. Fee-based Services: Revenue generated from specific services including criminal history record checks (WATCH), VIN inspections, and collision report requests.
3. Commercial Vehicle Enforcement: Port of entry operations and commercial vehicle inspections generating permit and enforcement fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Washington State Patrol is a state government law enforcement agency providing statewide traffic safety enforcement, criminal investigation support, forensic laboratory services, commercial vehicle regulation, and fire marshal services. The agency operates through 8 district offices, ports of entry, and crime laboratories to deliver services including collision reports, VIN inspections, criminal history records (WATCH), firearms background checks, missing persons investigations, and forensic analysis to Washington State residents, law enforcement partners, and other agencies.

Product overview

The Washington State Patrol operates as a law enforcement agency providing public safety services through a portfolio of distinct programs and enforcement divisions. The core offerings include traffic safety services (collision records, VIN inspections, commercial vehicle enforcement, DUI/impaired driving enforcement, distracted driving enforcement), crime-related services (criminal history records via WATCH, forensic laboratory services, missing persons investigations including AMBER and Silver Alerts, firearms background checks, sexual assault kit tracking), and fire safety services through the State Fire Marshal's Office (training, fire service certification, sprinkler licensing, emergency mobilization). Additional services include commercial vehicle regulation, license fraud investigation, fuel tax evasion enforcement, public records access, and training through the WSP Academy. The agency also publishes The Milepost as its internal newsletter. All services are provided directly by the agency to Washington State residents and law enforcement partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• State Fire Marshal's Office: A bureau of the Washington State Patrol responsible for fire protection, prevention, investigation, and emergency response coordination throughout the state.
• El Protector Program
• Safe Place Program
• Missing and Exploited Children Task Force (MECTF)
• Pro-Equity-Anti-Racism (PEAR) Plan

Products and services

• Collision Reports/Records Services
• VIN Inspection Program
• Criminal History Records (WATCH)
• Firearms Background Checks
• Missing and Unidentified Persons Unit (MUPU)
• Crime and Forensic Laboratory Services
• Missing and Exploited Children Task Force (MECTF)
• Sexual Assault Kit Tracking (SAK)
• State Fire Marshal Services
• All Risk Mobilization
• Commercial Vehicle Enforcement
• DUI/Impaired Driving Enforcement
• License Fraud Investigation
• Fuel Tax Evasion Unit
• WSP Academy
• Public Records Request System

Quantifiable outcome

• WSP troopers are responsible for nearly 50% of the DUI arrests in Washington State
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWSP partners with DOL on vehicle licensing, VIN inspections, and registration services. DOL licensing agents issue WSP inspection request forms and coordinate the scheduling system for VIN inspections statewide.
• Washington State Department of Licensing - Fuel Tax Evasion UnitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint fuel tax evasion enforcement unit with WSP and DOL working together to investigate suspected evasion and educate the public and industry on fuel tax compliance.
• Washington State Department of TransportationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWSDOT provides traffic condition information accessible through WSP website, enabling real-time traffic updates for Washington State motorists.
• Washington State Patrol Memorial FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit organization supporting WSP through the External Link Policy, providing resources for fallen officer memorial and employee support.
• Target ZerocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide initiative aiming to reduce highway deaths to zero by 2030. WSP participates through dedicated Target Zero Teams in high-DUI-fatality areas and daily enforcement efforts.
• Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMADD recognizes WSP troopers for their efforts in removing impaired drivers from Washington roadways.

Scale indicators7 records

Direct peers

• California Highway Patrol: California's statewide law enforcement agency providing traffic enforcement, commercial vehicle inspection, and protective services. Comparable to WSP in mandate, scale, and the combination of highway patrol, investigative, and specialized public safety functions.
• Oregon State Police: Oregon's primary state-level law enforcement agency, geographically and operationally analogous to WSP, providing patrol, criminal investigation, forensic services, and fish/wildlife enforcement across the state.
• New York State Police: Full-service statewide law enforcement agency offering patrol, criminal investigation, forensic laboratory, and specialized services. Comparable to WSP in scope and breadth of non-traffic functions alongside highway patrol duties.
• Pennsylvania State Police: Statewide law enforcement providing patrol, criminal investigation, forensic lab services, and motor carrier enforcement. Directly comparable to WSP in combining municipal-style policing in some areas with full statewide highway patrol authority.
• Texas Department of Public Safety: Texas's combined state police, highway patrol, and public safety agency, similar in mandate and operational breadth to WSP, with comparable functions in commercial vehicle enforcement, criminal investigation, and emergency response.
• Florida Highway Patrol: Florida's primary highway patrol agency operating under the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, providing statewide traffic enforcement, commercial vehicle regulation, and criminal interdiction. Comparable to WSP in focus and operational scope.
• Michigan State Police: Michigan's statewide full-service law enforcement agency providing patrol, criminal investigation, forensic sciences, and emergency management support. Highly comparable to WSP in service portfolio and statewide jurisdiction.
• Ohio State Highway Patrol: Ohio's statewide highway patrol providing traffic enforcement, commercial vehicle inspection, criminal investigation, and forensic services. Comparable to WSP in mandate and structure, with similar trooper-based operating model.
• Colorado State Patrol: Colorado's statewide law enforcement agency focused on highway safety, commercial vehicle enforcement, and criminal investigation. Comparable to WSP in scale, jurisdiction, and breadth of services.
• Arizona Department of Public Safety: Arizona's statewide law enforcement agency providing highway patrol, criminal investigation, and commercial vehicle enforcement. Operationally analogous to WSP with similar statewide traffic enforcement and investigative functions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wastatepatrol
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/wspgovandmedia
• Facebookfacebook.com/WashingtonStatePatrol
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/washington-state-patrol
• Instagraminstagram.com/wastatepatrol

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Washington State Patrol