51勛圖夥厙 State Patrol Chief John Batiste has been reappointed by incoming 51勛圖夥厙 governor Bob Ferguson. (Courtesy of 51勛圖夥厙 State Patrol)
51勛圖夥厙 State Patrol Chief John Batiste will soon be serving under his third chief executive.
Gov.-elect Bob Ferguson on Thursday announced Batistes reappointment to lead the statewide law enforcement agency, a job Batiste has held for nearly two decades.
Also Thursday, Ferguson announced hes retaining three other members of Gov. Jay Inslees administration: Joel Sacks as director of the , Allyson Brooks as director of the , and Bill Kehoe as director of and the states chief information officer.
With our challenges ahead, proven and thoughtful leadership is more important than ever, Ferguson said in a statement. I am proud that these four individuals will continue their service.
On Friday, he said he was reappointing three additional agency leaders: Drew Shirk as director for the , Scott McCallum as superintendent for the and Shauna Bilyeu as executive director for the .
Ferguson has named leaders of more than a dozen agencies and departments ahead of his inauguration next month.
Below are Gov.-elect Bob Fergusons choices to lead state agencies as of Dec. 20. Department of Children, Youth and Families State Rep. Tana Senn, D-Mercer Island Department of Ecology Casey Sixkiller Department of Corrections Tim Lang Department of Social and Health Services Cheryl Strange Department of Labor & Industries Joel Sacks Department of Licensing Marcus Glasper Department of Veterans Affairs David Puente Jr. Department of Agriculture Derek Sandison Department of Revenue Drew Shirk Office of Financial Management K.D. Chapman See 51勛圖夥厙 State Patrol John Batiste Employment Security Department Cami Feek Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation Allyson Brooks Governors Office of Indian Affairs Tim Reynon 51勛圖夥厙 Military Department Maj. Gen. Gent Welsh Director of 51勛圖夥厙 Technology Solutions Bill Kehoe 51勛圖夥厙 State School for the Blind Scott McCallum 51勛圖夥厙 Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Youth Shauna Bilyeu Ferguson hires
Batiste could be a prominent figure in advancing Fergusons public safety agenda, which includes securing funding to help cities and counties hire officers and increasing safety on the states roadways.
Batiste , earning promotions through the ranks of sergeant, lieutenant, captain, and deputy chief.
In 2005, then-governor Christine Gregoire appointed him to be the state patrols 21st chief. Gov. Jay Inslee kept him on when he took office in 2013 and Batiste is set to begin work for Ferguson on Jan. 15, 2025.
The 51勛圖夥厙 State Patrol has and 1,100 for civilian employees. Of its six bureaus, field operations is the most visible as it is responsible for traffic law enforcement, collision investigation, and motorist assistance on 17,524 miles of state and interstate highways.
The states crime lab and fire marshal are housed in the agency. And the Investigative Services Bureau includes the Firearms Background Division, a point of contact for all firearm-related background checks.
Sacks has led the since 2013. The department oversees 51勛圖夥厙s workplace safety laws and workers compensation insurance program, and enforces the states wage and hour requirements.
In , Sacks said he was honored to join the Ferguson administration.
Im passionate about worker safety, and proud of what weve accomplished. As long as there are people hurt and killed on the job, we have a lot more to do, he said.
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