Washington State Patrol announces new El Protector

Since 2003, the Washington State Patrol has operated its El Protector program-- a community outreach and education initiative focused on fostering proactive and positive interactions with the Spanish-speaking community in the Mid Columbia Valley.

According to WSP, Spanish-speaking motorists make up about half of licensed drivers involved in serious injury, fatal, and felony collisions within the Mid-Columbia Valley.

Trooper Daniel Mosqueda was recently named the new head of the El Protector program, allowing him to work directly with the Latino community in an effort to reduce DUIs and other potentially deadly traffic crashes, while fostering positive interactions with Spanish-speaking drivers.

"I'm luck enough to be from this area, so I know some of the stigma that comes with law enforcement, I know some of the issues that I've seen here in the community, and it's priceless for me to be able to come into a presentation into a room where there's 400 to 500 people and break down that barrier," Mosqueda said.

The trooper is available to speak to groups and organizations in Yakima, Benton, Franklin, Chelan, and Walla Walla Counties.

You can follow El Protector on twitter.