Mattawa's Carlos N. Mata named Top Cadet at the latest State Trooper graduation

MATTAWA — A Mattawa man was named the Top Overall Cadet in the latest graduating class of Troopers from the Washington State Patrol Trooper Academy.

“It took me completely by surprise,” Carlos N. Mata said last Friday. “I was there just to give it my best shot.”

Carlos N. Mata was recognized by the Academy’s instructional staff at the first of two graduation ceremonies on Nov. 18-19, held in Olympia.

The Top Overall Cadet Award recognizes the trooper cadet who demonstrated great courage to overcome obstacles, unwavering dedication to stay focused on reaching his goals, and the ability to give 100 percent in every aspect of his training, according to Captain Shannon Bendiksen, the Academy commander.

“Carlos Mata performed well in a majority of training sessions; therefore, he was selected by Academy Instructors as the Top Overall Cadet for his class,” he said.

Mata, 24, graduated from Mattawa High School in 2009 with a grade point average of 3.50. He was part of the highly successful soccer program. His wife is the former Vanessa Valladares, also a Mattawa High grad.

“Trooper Mata demonstrated the necessary skills, abilities, and judgment to be an excellent trooper and made extra efforts to continuously make improvements,” Bendiksen said.

Also graduating on the 19th were two brothers from Yakima, Daniel and David Muñóz, who have been assigned to District 6 at the Moses Lake Detachment. Mata will work in District 3, the Grandview area.

“I would be happy anywhere,” he said. “But I wished I could be closer to home.”

The 25 new Washington State Patrol Troopers were sworn in by Associate Chief Justice of the Washington State Supreme Court Charles W. Johnson on the 19th.

The new Troopers were presented their commission cards by Gov. Jay Inslee and Washington State Patrol Chief John R. Batiste. Batiste welcomed them into a law enforcement organization known and trusted by the citizens of Washington State for 93 years.

“After completing more than 1,000 hours of training, these men and women will join Washington’s premier law enforcement organization,” Batiste said.

Only 4-6 percent of the applicants make the grade to become WSP Troopers, Batiste noted. The Washington State Patrol Academy produces approximately three cadet classes each biennium, accounting for about 100-120 new troopers.

Mata earned a criminal justice degree from Eastern Washington University in 2014. He took that course in hopes it would open doors in law enforcement and, later, help him rise through the ranks.

The State Trooper decision came on a cold winter night while traveling home from college. His car went dead in the middle of his journey, and a trooper stopped to assist.

“She offered me a blanket to keep warm,” he said. “She told me I could sit in the back seat of her patrol car and wait until help arrived. That was service with humility.”

Mata went online to learn about the Washington State Patrol. He was amazed. It was not about arresting people but about helping people, just as the Trooper did that night. He applied to the WSP early in 2014.

“The 25 cadets graduating (Nov. 19) endured a rigorous application process, an extensive background investigation and received the best training, unmatched anywhere else in the nation,” Batiste said. “Today, they will join the ranks of Washington’s finest, as Troopers of the Washington State Patrol.”

During the ceremony of the 19th, the Core Values Award was also presented to Mata. This award is presented to the Trooper cadet who most typifies the Training Division Core Values which include:

Strong leadership, effective partnerships, professional excellence, acting with integrity and accountability, respecting and protecting individual rights, and earning the trust and confidence of the public.

The recipient of this award is determined by an anonymous vote of the recipient’s classmates. It is sponsored by the Washington State Patrol Memorial Foundation.

The award honors the most recent State Patrol member to give his life in service to the citizens of the State of Washington. That was Trooper Brent L. Hanger on August 6. The award was presented in Trooper Hanger’s honor by his wife Lisa Hanger.

“This was a surprise too,” Mata said. “I’m happy I demonstrated I could be a good teammate.”

Chief Batiste presented other awards at a ceremony held on Nov. 18 during an open house at the WSP Academy.

They included the Top Driving Award to Trooper Mata. This award recognizes the highest level of proficiency with respect to driving skills and techniques, decision-making and mind-set, and steady and constant improvement through each phase of drivers training.

It, too, surprised Mata. But this one made sense. He loves to drive, and especially loved it while taking drivers training at the Academy.

“When I’m stressed, I like driving,” he said. “So every time I was driving at the Academy, I was relaxed.”

The Top Control Tactics Award was presented to Trooper David Muñóz of Yakima. This award recognizes the highest level of proficiency in control tactics techniques, to include self-defense, handcuffing, searching and use of force thought process.