Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - July 17, 2003
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Alt Contact:  Nelsa Brodie, Washington State Patrol, 360-753-5299

Washington State Patrol Garners Prestigious International Honors

Gov. Gary Locke announced today that the Washington State Patrol has been named winner of the 2002 National Chief’s Challenge and will also receive the prestigious Clayton J. Hall Memorial Award. Both awards are sponsored by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and will be presented Oct. 21, 2003, in a ceremony in Philadelphia.

“I congratulate Washington Patrol Chief Ronal Serpas and the hundreds of dedicated men and women of the State Patrol for winning these awards,” Locke said. “Both distinctions are a tribute to the State Patrol’s ongoing efforts and unparalleled dedication to duty.”

The State Patrol finished first in the IACP’s largest category of state patrol and police agencies, those departments with more than 1,000 sworn employees. The category had received 410 entries worldwide, the largest number in the National Chief's Challenge 12-year history.

The National Chief’s Challenge program was created to recognize law enforcement organizations that are successful in their traffic law enforcement and safety efforts. In 2000, the Washington State Patrol won this award in the category of 501-1,000 sworn employees.

The State Patrol also received the Clayton J. Hall Memorial Award that is given to the law enforcement agency representing the most comprehensive traffic safety program. This is the highest traffic law enforcement honor given by the IACP and the first time the Washington State Patrol received this award.

“This recognition is a testament to the efforts of each and every employee of the State Patrol, and further evidence that our approach is making a difference,” said Serpas. “I could not be prouder of this accomplishment by our amazing team of professionals, who see our mission of saving lives and protecting our quality of life as their number one priority.”

The International Association of Chiefs of Police is the world’s oldest and largest nonprofit membership organization of police executives, with more than 19,000 members in over 92 different countries. IACP’s leadership consists of the operating chief executives of international, federal, state and local agencies of all sizes.

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