|
In 1910, the Pennsylvania
State Police received high praise from President Theodore Roosevelt. He visited the
Wyoming Barracks and inspected the Troop on August 10, 1910.
The State Police was authorized to establish a
fifth Troop on July 1, 1919. The Troop was designated Troop E and established in
Lancaster. Also in 1919, the State Police established motorcycle patrols to deal with the
growing number of motorists.
In February 1920, a State Police training
school was established in Newville, Cumberland County. Also that year, the Superintendent
created the Bureau of Criminal Identification and the Bureau of Fire Protection. In April,
seventy motorcycles were purchased; 14 were assigned to each of the Five Troops. Patrol
zones were established and owners of telephones along the patrol zones were given steel
discs or flags to indicate a telephone (flag stop). Motorcycle patrols, seeing a flag stop
displayed, would interrupt their patrol activity to telephone their Station for
assignments. Troop Commanders monthly conferences were established that June.
On August 25, 1922, the Superintendent issued
a Special Order bestowing upon the Deputy Superintendent the rank of Major. This was the
initial use of that rank in constabulary history.
The Newville Training School was closed on
March 1, 1923. A temporary school was established at the Pennsylvania National Guard
Military Reservation at Mt. Gretna near Colebrook, Lebanon County. Accommodations
consisted of tents and military field equipment. The temporary school was closed in the
summer of 1923.
The State Highway Patrol was created in 1923
within the Department of Highways to enforce the vehicle laws of Pennsylvania's burgeoning
highway system. The same year saw the State Police install the nation's first state wide
police radio telegraph system. The system remained operational until 1947. A State Police
Training School was established in Hershey, Dauphin County, on Cocoa Avenue, in 1924. That
training school would remain at that site until 1960. The State Highway Patrol secured the
use of the Hershey Inn in Hershey, to train Highway Patrol recruits.
Also in 1924, Troop F Lancaster, was moved
to Harrisburg and Troop C, Pottsville, relocated to Reading. That same year saw the First
drivers license examination for Pennsylvania motorists.
In 1926, the State Highway Patrol Training
School was moved from the Hershey Inn to 19th and Swatara Streets, Harrisburg. The Highway
Patrol at that time consisted of forty six SubStations.
In 1927, the Superintendent established the
first two State Highway Patrol Troops. They were Troop A, Harrisburg, and Troop B,
Greensburg. that year also saw the First State Highway Patrolman killed in the line of
duty.
The State Police, in 1927, issued a regulation
that prohibited any member from marrying without the Superintendent's approval. That same
year saw the State Police establish a public radio station in Harrisburg, WBAK. In 1929,
the Superintendent issued a General Order requiring all members of the department to
memorize the State Police Call of Honor.
On June 1, 1928, the State Highway Patrol
established Troop C, Bellefonte and on September 1, 1929, Troop D, Williamsport was
established. The year 1930 saw the Superintendent establish a Headquarters Detective
Division. In 1931, Governor Gifford Pinchot formally dedicated a new Highway Patrol
Building at 21st and Herr Streets in Harrisburg. It became Troop A. with a supply unit and
training school for the State Highway Patrol. In 1932, the State Highway Patrol
established Troop 'F,' Philadelphia.
The State Police, in 1932, established a
Photographic Section and a small Crime Laboratory Division. That year the first polygraph
was purchased and a Criminal Intelligence Section was formed.
In 1933, the Highway Patrol celebrated its 10th
anniversary with a formal inspection at Longwood Gardens, near Kennett Square, Chester
County. Original members were presented with a uniform star insignia representing 10 years
of service. The practice of issuing service insignias continues today.
In 1935, Troop F, Franklin, became the sixth
and last Troop to be established by the Highway Patrol before the merger with the State
Police on June 29, 1937. The new department was called the Pennsylvania Motor Police. In
addition, the new department administrator would be known as the Commissioner. The new
Commissioner appointed himself a Colonel and his Deputy Commissioner as a Lieutenant
Colonel. This represented the first time these ranks were used.
The Commissioner divided the department into
four districts with district headquarters established in Greensburg, Harrisburg, Wyoming,
and Philadelphia on July 21, 1937. There were 11 troops within the district structure.
They were:
- District I District II
• Troop A, Greensburg Troop E, Harrisburg
• Troop D, Butler Troop G. Hollidaysburg
• Troop F, Franklin Troop 1, Bellefonte
• Troop H, Greensburg
- District III District IV
• Troop B, Wyoming Troop L Philadelphia
• Troop K, Fingston Troop C, Reading
That year saw the rank of Private Second
Class (P2C) and Private First Class (PFC) established.
On January 1, 1938, the Commissioner established a medical Unit and the first Medical
Officer was appointed to the rank of Major. Additionally, the Commissioner established a
Communications Division.
In February 1938, the Commissioner ordered
267 passenger cars painted white with black hoods and Pennsylvania Motor Police lettering
on the door. These cars became known as Ghost Cars.
The Department was reorganized on August 11, 1938:
First Squadron
• Troop A, Greensburg
• Troop B, Washington
• Troop C, Punxsutawney
• Troop D, Butler
• Troop E, Erie
Second Squadron
• Troop A, Harrisburg
• Troop B, Chambersburg
• Troop C, Hollidaysburg
• Troop D, Williamsport
• Troop E, Harrisburg
In June 1939, legislation passed that added to the responsibility of the Pennsylvania
Motor Police the return of escaped convicts and parole violators. Other laws added the
responsibility to the Motor Police for annual school bus inspection and inspection station
supervision.
January 1940, saw yet another reorganization within the Department:
First Squadron
Troop A, Greensburg
Troop B, Washington
Troop C, Punxsutawney
Troop D, Butler
Troop E, Erie
Second Squadron
• Troop A, Harrisburg
• Troop B, Chambersburg
• Troop C, Hollidaysburg
• Troop D, Williamsport
During that same year, 150 men underwent training at Indiantown
Gap Military Reservation because the Hershey Training School was inadequate for that
number of recruits.
On October 1, 1940, Troop B, Chambersburg, was dissolved and re-established as a special
patrol unit in Bedford. It was given the responsibility of patrolling the newly
established Pennsylvania Turnpike System. The former Troop's duties were divided between
Troop A, Greensburg; Troop A. Harrisburg; and Troop C, Hollidaysburg.
1941 to Present
The Commissioner created the Executive Service
Section on February 5, 1942.
Act 52 of April 28, 1943, changed the name of the organization from the Pennsylvania Motor
Police to the Pennsylvania State Police. The department also became responsible for
enforcing the Uniform Firearms Act that year.
State Police were assigned to assist the Pennsylvania Aeronautics Commission in the
investigation of aircraft accidents and aircraft violations in 1945. This function
continued until 1972.
The year 1946 saw the First state wide radio telephone system installed and the
elimination of 'flag stops.'
In 1947, new laws authorized the State Police to assist the Department of Revenue in
collecting the state's cigarette tax and enforcing the Fuel Use Tax. The Department of
Revenue provided the State Police with cruiser type motor launches to patrol the
Schuylkill and Delaware Rivers and Lake Erie. Four men were assigned to each detail. A
1949 law authorized the State Police to inspect dry cleaning and dying plants.
The State Police dissolved the terms 'Private Second Class' and 'Private First Class' in
favor of 'Private' in 1953. That rank continued until 1956 when the term was replaced by
'Trooper.' During the mid 1950's, the Retired State Police Association was formed.
On July 10, 1957, Act 360 provided for a mandatory retirement at 60 years of age,
exclusive of the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner.
Chrome badges were replaced by gold badges in a leather case in 1959. Washable summer
shirts were issued. Straw campaign hats were introduced for summer wear. New officers'
caps with gold braid and the 'scrambled eggs' were issued. New black and gold patches were
also issued.
A new State Police Academy in Hershey opened on March 2. 1960. The Academy was officially
dedicated on June 13, 1960. That same year saw the first combined Troop Commanders and
District Commanders Conference.
On September 1, 1961, the State Police officially began radar speed checks, utilizing - I
32 sets. That same year, the twoyear enlistment discharge paper and re-enlistment
process was discontinued.
On October 1, 1963, married men were permitted to apply for the State Police. That same
year also saw the Commissioner establish a Youth Aid Division.
All Troops dropped the district designation and were alphabetically designated on January
1, 1965:
• Troop A. Greensburg Troop J, Lancaster
• Troop B, Washington Troop K Philadelphia
• Troop C, Punxsutawney Troop L, Reading
• Troop D, Butler Troop M, Bethlehem
• Troop E, Erie Troop N, Hazleton
• Troop F, Montoursville Troop P, Wyoming
• Troop G, Hollidaysburg Troop R, Dunmore
• Troop H, Harrisburg Troop T, Highspire
• The radio teletype system was computerized on June 1, 1965.
On October 5, 1967, a new law (Act 140)
eliminated the twoyear enlistment process and provided for one
enlistment until discharged or retired. That same year saw the establishment of an
18month probationary period for Cadets and Troopers.
Six Area Commands were created in January of 1968. Also that year saw short sleeve shirts
being issued for the first time. New small chevrons were issued for noncommissioned
officers. In November 1968, the State Police Aviation Division was established.
A new Troop, designated 'S', was activated on September 1, 1970. It was given the
responsibility of patrolling the Pennsylvania's Interstate Systems. Early the following
year, Area Command VI was established and given command over Troops 'S' and 'T'.
On October 1, 1971, the first female applicant was accepted as a cadet in the Pennsylvania
State Police. The Academy class, containing the first female Troopers, graduated on July
7, 1972.
The State Police received responsibility for administering the state wide Uniform Crime
Report on July 1, 1973. The following year the State Police received a new radio
communications system. In compliance with the Civil Rights Act of
1969, a Consent Decree was entered into by the Department in 1974 with regard to hiring
practices and promotional procedures. That same year saw the State Police Rodeo
discontinued. The Rodeo had been a public relations aspect of the Department since 1934.
In December of 1974, a new state wide radio system was formally dedicated.
A new State Police Department Headquarters building was dedicated on September 12, 1978.
Department Headquarters no longer had to share its facilities with other state agencies.
Operation S.PA.R.E. (State Police Aerial Reconnaissance and Enforcement) was initiated on
October 20, 1978 as Troopers clocked motorists With a stopwatch from a State Police
helicopter.
Two UH1B helicopters (Hueys), acquired through the Federal Military Surplus Property
System from the Pennsylvania National Guard, were put into service in March 1979. Based at
Harrisburg and Latrobe, the helicopters were to be used for disaster rescues and emergency
medical transportation. Impetus for acquisition of the units was provided, in large part,
by the loss of life in the 1977 Johnstown Flood.
The Department marked its 75th Anniversary with a sellout celebration at the Hershey
Convention Center with more than 1,000 persons in attendance. A memorial, honoring those
persons killed in the line of duty, was dedicated at the Academy. The monument was paid
for by contributions.
In June 1980, department members were issued a new sidearm, the .357 magnum Ruger, a
stainless steel, four inch barrel revolver. It was the first major change in State Police
issued weaponry in its 75 year history.
In October 1980, the State Police expanded the aviation Division with the addition of a
federallyfunded Cessna 182 Skylane to assist in the State Police Aerial Reconnaissance
Enforcement (S.P.A.R.E.) Program.
On October 16, 1981, the Records and Identification Division completed the first phase of
computerizing the Master Name Index of the criminal history file, thus providing a more
efficient response to criminal history record inquiries.
The Department's Laboratory Division expanded in October 1982 with the addition of a new
lab in Lima, Delaware County.
The Pennsylvania State Police developed 'Pennsylvania Crime Watch' in an effort to reduce
and solve crime in December 1982. In July 1984, Pennsylvania was recognized by the
National Crime Prevention Coalition as having the best state crime prevention program in
the nation.
The Office of Professional Responsibility was created in 1985 to enforce the high
standards of conduct among all State Police officers and employees.
In April 1986, the Department announced a program aimed at the interdiction of drug
trafficking along the Commonwealth's highways codenamed, "Operation Whiteline.' The
program was designed to train patrol personnel in the recognition of drug traffickers and
their methods of operation.
Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers was created in the Bureau of Community Services in 1986. Crime
Stoppers utilizes the news media and citizens to locate criminals who are sought by
police. Rewards are offered for information that helps police locate the criminals.
Citing the need for the State Police to employ expertly trained officers versed in the
most modern concepts available to manage potentially lethal incidents, the State Police
announced the formation of a Special Emergency Response Team (S.E.R.T.). The team has
members who are trained in tactical and negotiation responses. The first S.E.R.T. Team was
organized in Eastern Pennsylvania in December, 1986. A second S.E.R.T. Team was organized
for Western Pennsylvania in June, 1992.
The First group of Peer Contacts, part of the newly formed Member Assistance Program,
completed their training in Hershey in September 1986. The training is designed to develop
and refine the listening and helping skills of the peer contacts.
A new radio communication system was installed
throughout the state replacing the department's fourchannel mobile radios with a system
that has 32 separate channels. For the first time, patrol cars have the ability to
communicate with local police jurisdictions as 11 channels were allocated to local and
municipal police organizations.
The enforcement of Pennsylvania's liquor laws was
transferred to the Pennsylvania State Police in July 1987. A Bureau of Liquor Control
Enforcement was established as the department welcomed 144 enforcement officers, 81
clerical personnel and 2 attorneys who transferred from the liquor Control Board.
Read
More History ...
|
