Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - January 9, 2004
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Gary Locke Appoints New Chief of Washington State Patrol

Gov. Gary Locke today appointed Lowell M. Porter as the new chief of the Washington State Patrol. Chief Ronal Serpas is resigning to become chief of police in Nashville, Tenn.

Porter, 47, most recently served as deputy chief of the Washington State Patrol (WSP) and commander of the Field Operations Bureau. The Field Operations Bureau is the largest component of the Washington State Patrol, including the eight patrol districts and the special operations division.

“Lowell’s considerable experience in many facets of the Washington State Patrol will make him an excellent chief,” Locke said. “He is well-equipped to build on the successful programs of Chief Serpas.”

Porter has held numerous positions within WSP, including commander of the Office of Professional Standards, commander of the Human Resources Division and coordinator of the Problem Oriented Public Safety program and the Drug Recognition program.

“I would like to thank Governor Locke for providing me with the opportunity to lead what I believe is the best law enforcement agency in the country,” Porter said. “Chief Serpas has set us in the right direction with his outstanding leadership and vision. I look forward to working with the men and women of the State Patrol to provide superior public safety services to the citizens of Washington.”

While commander of the Field Operation Bureau, Porter oversaw a 44 percent increase in Driving Under the Influence arrests, a 21 percent decrease in interstate freeway fatalities, and a 30 percent reduction in citizen complaints against troopers.

Porter also worked with Washington State University on the racial profiling traffic stop data analysis and chaired the WSP’s Traffic Stop Data Committee. This committee created, implemented and monitored the WSP’s groundbreaking efforts to capture the data necessary to successfully analyze traffic stops.

Porter is a graduate of the 195th session of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy and will graduate with a bachelor’s degree from City University in Tacoma in the spring. He was commissioned as a trooper in 1983.

Porter will make $120,000 annually.

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