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| Trooper Tony Radulescu |
We are extremely saddened to learn of the death of Trooper Tony Radulescu, a 16-year veteran of the Washington State Patrol. Trooper Radulescu was killed early this morning while conducting a traffic stop near Bremerton.
With all the late nights, heated debates, and passionate testimony that go on during the legislative session, we occasionally need to step back and reflect that none of it would happen without a safe and secure environment to conduct business.
That safety and security for the legislature and the entire Capitol campus is, in large part, provided by the Washington State Patrol.
Uniformed troopers are regularly seen in the rotunda, patrolling the campus in their vehicles, and walking the hallways of the office buildings. One of the most impressive days in Olympia is the day when graduating cadets are given the keys to their patrol cars, which are all lined up on the campus diagonal streets.
Most days on campus are pretty routine. But late last year, hundreds of extra troopers were called in to provide security during the Occupy Olympia protests at the Capitol.
For the entire event, the WSP officers went about their jobs with extreme professionalism and dignity. Lawmakers, legislative staff, the general public, and the 3,000 Occupy demonstrators, remained safe thanks to the brave men and women in our law enforcement community.
Our thoughts are with Trooper Radulescu’s family and friends and with the entire WSP family during this difficult time.
Thank you, Washington State Patrol, and thank you to the thousands of federal, state, and local law enforcement officers who risk their lives to keep us safe. We couldn’t do our jobs if you didn’t do yours.
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It's a cold, blustery Saturday in Olympia! 
Edmonds Town Hall
During the Great Depression, FDR knew we couldn’t cut our
way back to prosperity. Instead, he put everybody to work building a better
America, building the parks, dams, bridges, and colleges we still use today.
The other effort happened here in Washington state in the 1970s. Gov. Dan
Evans, a Republican, saw how jobless people were hurting. He put people to
work, in every corner of Washington, on projects that will help our economy for
decades. His plan was called Jobs Now, Washington’s Future. 
But economic development isn’t always hi-tech buildings and
university labs. Sometimes a simple repair of a sewer or water line is what a
town needs to attract commercial development. Or repairing a hatchery to
increase fish production gives a small town, like the ones along the Skykomish
River, a huge economic boost. 
Uniformed troopers are regularly seen in the rotunda, patrolling the campus in their vehicles, and walking the hallways of the office buildings. One of the most impressive days in Olympia is the day when graduating cadets are given the keys to their patrol cars, which are all lined up on the campus diagonal streets.
