About WADEPS
Washington State Data Exchange for Public Safety
Authorized by the Office of the Attorney General and Chapter 10.118 RCW, WADEPS is the state-appointed data custodian for statewide police use-of-force reporting requirements.
Our Mission
To make public safety data discoverable, accessible, and meaningful.
Our Vision
Empower individuals, agencies, communities, and governments throughout Washington to address complex challenges in public safety and drive positive change through evidence-based analysis and decision-making.
Legislative Mandate
Chapter 10.118 RCW grew out of a report Attorney General Bob Ferguson released in June 2020 recommending the state create a centralized, publicly accessible website with information about police use-of-force incidents.
Engaging Statewide Stakeholders
Listening to and learning from public safety officers and administrators, community members, government representatives, and experts in criminal justice has been vital to developing the WADEPS platform and driving innovation.
WADEPS has organized more than a dozen focus groups and presentations with community members and leaders and law enforcement agency personnel. More are planned for 2025 and beyond.
Additionally, 50 individuals from 12 agencies are serving as beta testers—reviewing the training and data submission protocols, and providing feedback which helps ensure WADEPS procedures support agency protocols and processes.
WADEPS has organized more than a dozen focus groups and presentations with community members and leaders and law enforcement agency personnel. More are planned for 2025 and beyond.
Additionally, 50 individuals from 12 agencies are serving as beta testers—reviewing the training and data submission protocols, and providing feedback which helps ensure WADEPS procedures support agency protocols and processes.
WADEPS status reports provided to the Office of the Attorney General:
- Semi-Annual Report: January 2025 (PDF)
- Semi-Annual Report: June 2024 (PDF)
- Quarterly Report: March 2024 (PDF)
- Quarterly Report: December 2023 (PDF)
If you need an accessible format, please contact wa.deps@wsu.edu for assistance.
People and Organizations
The Washington State Date Exchange for Public Safety (WADEPS) is managed by Washington State University (WSU) and supported by secure, world-class, cloud-based technology.
WADEPS leverages the broad range of expertise and resources available at an R-1 land-grant research university and through statewide agencies.
WADEPS leverages the broad range of expertise and resources available at an R-1 land-grant research university and through statewide agencies.
Washington State University
Center for Interdisciplinary Statistical Education and Research
College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Division of Governmental Studies and Services
Information Technology Services
Office of Research
School of Politics, Philosophy, and Public Affairs
University Marketing and Communications
Partner Organizations
Seattle University Department of Criminal Justice, Criminology, and Forensics
Washington Criminal Justice Training Commission
People
Our interdisciplinary leadership team includes experts in criminal justice research and technology development, experienced statisticians and data analysts, and practiced communications and training professionals.
Executive Director
David Makin
Associate Professor, Criminal Justice and Criminology
Director, Complex Social Interaction Lab
Washington State University
Associate Professor, Criminal Justice and Criminology
Director, Complex Social Interaction Lab
Washington State University
Data Governance
Matthew Hickman
Chair and Professor, Criminal Justice, Criminology, and Forensics
Seattle University
Chair and Professor, Criminal Justice, Criminology, and Forensics
Seattle University
Training & Focus Groups
Season Hoard
Interim Associate Director, Division of Governmental Studies and Services
Associate Professor, Political Science
Washington State University
Interim Associate Director, Division of Governmental Studies and Services
Associate Professor, Political Science
Washington State University
Data Literacy
Dean Johnson
Director, Center for Interdisciplinary Statistical Education and Research (CISER)
Professor, Mathematics and Statistics
Washington State University
Director, Center for Interdisciplinary Statistical Education and Research (CISER)
Professor, Mathematics and Statistics
Washington State University
Statistical Analysis
Bala Krishnamoorthy
Professor, Mathematics and Statistics
Washington State University
Professor, Mathematics and Statistics
Washington State University
Agency Outreach
Christina Sanders
Director, Division of Governmental Studies and Services
Washington State University
Director, Division of Governmental Studies and Services
Washington State University
Communications
Joanna Steward
WADEPS
Washington State University
WADEPS
Washington State University
Contextualization
Dale Willits
Associate Professor, Criminal Justice and Criminology
Washington State University
Associate Professor, Criminal Justice and Criminology
Washington State University
Workforce Development
Funding for WADEPS includes paid professional development opportunities for graduate student researchers and undergraduate student interns in multiple disciplines. These valuable work force preparation opportunities include learning cutting-edge technologies, performing hands-on work with database systems and data processing, providing agency and public communications, and collaborating on scholarly work in criminal justice and data analytics with faculty mentors.