PUYALLUP—The Washington State Patrol held a brief Meet & Greet opportunity with retired WSP Captain Howard F West on Tuesday, August 27, honoring the agency’s oldest living retiree.
The event was held at the Washington State Fairgrounds, just two months after Captain West’s 102nd birthday who retired from the law enforcement agency on January 31, 1978, after 30-years of service.
West, who was born one year after the WSP was founded in 1921, began his career with the agency in 1947 as a vehicle safety inspector in Seattle. Two years later West was promoted to Clerk and then one year later, promoted again to Driver License Examiner 1.
On November 1, 1950, West graduated from the 15th Training Class and was commissioned as a Patrolman in Spokane. Seven years later he was promoted to Sergeant. In 1962 he transferred to the City of Tacoma where he was promoted to Lieutenant shortly after.
In April 1969 West attended Law Enforcement Management School and was eventually transferred to the City of Olympia where he was advanced to Captain and received the Safe Driving Award in 1973. He retired from working as VIN Westside Coordinator…