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State Patrol Couple Has Passion for Each Other and Solving Crimes

Jesse is a computer crimes expert who spends hours cracking computer hard drives, finding people who are committing despicable crimes against children over the internet.

Kristen is a crime analyst who helps to locate trends and “hot spots” where crimes, such as auto theft, are happening so surveillance can be heightened. Together, the Regalados, who have been married for over nine years, are two State Patrol employees who not only love their work but they are committed to each other as well.

Jesse began in the State Patrol as a trooper in Ephrata. He and Kristen met while she was a summer intern in the Grant County prosecutor’s office. Jesse came in to check on a pending case and it was love at first sight. They married a year later. The couple moved to Olympia in December, 2000, when Jesse became the first detective in the Missing and Exploited Children’s Unit. Kristen joined the Patrol as a specialist in auto theft and collision investigation in 2001.

“They both go above and beyond, giving 110% to this agency,” said Lt. Rich Wiley. “They are passionate about what they do and every day they go out of their way to make a difference,” he said.

“The Regaldos are both very hard working people who are dedicated to what they do,” explained Lt. Jeffrey DeVere.

Jesse’s time is spent investigating the growing numbers of crimes against children, tracking on-line predators and busting possessors of on-line pornography. As a computer expert, Jesse also aids agencies statewide in providing technical assistance in a wide variety of investigations, combing through hard drives and looking for information that will assist a case. Jesse is also an undercover narcotics officer, which is why we cannot show you his face. Kristen’s time as a crime analyst is spent aiding investigations on various crimes, such as mapping where stolen cars are dumped, where they are stolen from, etc. to help investigators track trends.

The couple say they are driven by their work because there are real victims and real people affected. Says Jesse: “How can I relax when I know there is even one child out there afraid to turn the lights off at night because of fear of being abused?” Says Kristen: “We both were raised with a sense of right and wrong and we take our work very seriously.”

The couple live in Olympia with their dog, Subpoena.

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