The West Virginia State Police is a paramilitary organization, state law enforcement agency in the United States that provides statewide police services to the 1.83 million residents in West Virginia. It is the fourth oldest state police agency and was born in the second extraordinary session of the West Virginia Legislature on June 19, 1919 as a result of uprisings surrounding organized labor in the coal and mine industries.
Video West Virginia State Police
History
Governor John Jacob Cornwell was insistent upon having a State Police force which he said, "was mandatory in order for him to uphold the laws of our state." Part of the compromise was the name of the organization: "West Virginia Department of Public Safety" was the official name until 1995 when the name was changed to "West Virginia State Police" during the legislative session.
Maps West Virginia State Police
Today
Like other state law enforcement agencies, West Virginia troopers enforce traffic laws statewide, investigate crimes and protect the governor and his immediate family. The superintendent of the West Virginia State Police is Colonel Jan Cahill with Lieutenant Colonel Dwayne Bowles and Major Vince Deeds serving under Colonel Cahill
West Virginia State Police troopers wear a forest-green uniform and campaign hat. They receive their training at the West Virginia State Police Academy located in Institute, a suburb of Charleston, and near the agency's headquarters in South Charleston. Upon appointment, cadets undergo an intense training program at the State Police Academy.
The West Virginia State Police also runs its own forensic laboratory and provide scientific investigation services to law enforcement agencies across the state. Services offered to criminal justice agencies include biochemistry, drug, firearm investigations, latent prints, questioned documents, toxicology and trace evidence. The crime lab is accredited by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB).
Recruitment and training
The West Virginia Division of Criminal Justice Services is responsible for setting minimum physical ability standards for police officers working in the state. In 2007, following a national trend, it relaxed the physical ability standards for aspiring police officers. Right now, any police applicant must do at least 27 push-ups/minute, 29 sit-ups/minute and be able to run 1.5 miles (2.4 km) in a maximum time limit of 14 minutes 53 seconds. The State Police, however, chose not to follow those standards unlike most local police agencies in West Virginia. The agency's recruiters still require applicants to perform at least 27 push-ups/minute, 29 sit-ups/minute and those same applicants have to run 1.5 miles (2.4 km) in no more than 14 minutes 52 seconds, which were all the initial minimum requirements for all police departments in West Virginia.
Training at the paramilitary academy lasts about 25 weeks compared to about 16 weeks for officers from other departments (trained at the same academy). When cadets graduate, they are promoted to the rank of "Trooper." They can be stationned anywhere in the 55 West Virginia counties working from detachments (barracks). They serve an eighteen-month probationary period that starts at the time they enter the academy. After completing successfully that probationary period, they are eligible to receive an associate degree in police sciences through the Marshall Technical and Community College program.
Personnel
The State Police has struggled with staffing issues for many years and the problem seems to persist mainly due to lack of funding to dramatically increase the number of road troopers. As of 2013, the agency employed well above 600 sworn officers, making it de facto the largest law enforcement agency in the state. The State Police is heavily relied upon to assist in many of the 55 West Virginia counties. In September 2013, news organizations started reporting a new initiative from the agency to increase manpower. The Accelerated Cadet Program targets local West Virginia police officers who want to join the State Police. Once hired, such officers would train for only 11 weeks instead of the 25 weeks normal cadets go through.
The State Police is and has been the only agency to operate a law enforcement academy in West Virginia. It trains its own troopers but also all other law enforcement officers from the state: sheriff deputies, city and college police officers, and motor carrier enforcement officers who, unlike in some states, are not part of the State Police but have their own separate agency.
Rank structure
Vehicles
State Police vehicles are composed of a variety of makes with blue and gold colors accompanied by the agency's logo on the side front doors. For many years, the agency has used Ford Crown Victorias for the road. In recent years however, State Police has phased in Chevy Impalas and the new Ford Police Interceptor and Police Interceptor Utility into its fleet. The agency also uses unmarked vehicles (usually assigned to command staff members statewide). Vehicles are mainly equipped with blue, LED, lights.
Weapons
Troopers are issued the .45 ACP Smith & Wesson 4566TSW, a version of the Smith & Wesson Model 4506. The West Virginia State Police issue Smith and Wesson 4566TSW which have a bobbed hammer. The 4566TSW's have a blue metal finish. Each WVSP 4566TSW has the agency name and shoulder patch engraved. Each Trooper is issued an attachable flashlight which mounts to their pistol.
Prior to the Smith and Wesson Model 4566TSW sidearms, the West Virginia State Police carried the Smith & Wesson 4566, unlike the 4566TSW's the 4566 didn't have the tactical rail. Prior to the Model 4566 .40 S&W Smith & Wesson Model 4006. Before the Smith & Wesson 4006, the West Virginia State Police carried the Smith & Wesson Model 686 .357 magnum.
Organization
- Cabinet Secretary
- Superintendent of the State Police
- Deputy Superintendent
- Executive Services
- Media Relations Unit
- Personnel Unit
- Medical Unit
- Staff Services
- Accounting Unit
- Communications Unit
- Criminal Records Unit
- Forensic Laboratory
- Planning and Research Unit
- Procurement Unit
- Promotional Standards Unit
- Traffic Records Unit
- Training Academy
- Uniform Crime Reporting Unit
- Professional Standards
- Legal Services
- Field Operations
- Field Troops 1 - 8
- Bureau of Criminal Investigations
- Regional Offices 1 - 6
- Investigative Support Services
- Insurance Fraud Unit
- Polygraph Unit
- Drug Diversion Unit
- Marijuana Eradication
- Digital Forensics Unit
- Technical Operations Unit
- Cold Case Unit
- Criminal Intelligence Unit
- Special Operations Unit
- Special Response Teams
- Aviation Section
- K-9 Unit
- Explosive Response Teams
- Crimes Against Children Unit
- Executive Protection Unit
- Executive Services
- Deputy Superintendent
Troops and detachments
Troop 0 Command - South Charleston
- Headquarters
- Forensic Laboratory
- Executive Protection
- Special Operations
Troop 1 Command - Shinnston
- Bridgeport Detachment
- Fairmont Detachment
- Grafton Detachment
- Hundred Detachment
- Kingwood Detachment
- Morgantown Detachment
- Moundsville Detachment
- New Cumberland Detachment
- New Martinsville Detachment
- Wellsburg Detachment
- West Union Detachment
- Wheeling Detachment
Troop 2 Command - Charles Town
- Berkeley Springs Detachment
- Charles Town Detachment
- Keyser Detachment
- Martinsburg Detachment
- Moorefield Detachment
- Romney Detachment
Troop 3 Command - Elkins
- Buckhannon Detachment
- Elkins Detachment
- Franklin Detachment
- Glenville Detachment
- Marlinton Detachment
- Parsons Detachment
- Philippi Detachment
- Sutton Detachment
- Webster Springs Detachment
- Weston Detachment
Troop 4 Command - South Charleston
- Clay Detachment
- Elizabeth Detachment
- Grantsville Detachment
- Harrisville Detachment
- Parkersburg Detachment
- Quincy Detachment
- Ripley Detachment
- South Charleston Detachment
- Spencer Detachment
- Mason County Detachment
- Winfield Detachment
- St Marys Detachment
Troop 5 Command - Logan
- Hamlin Detachment
- Huntington Detachment
- Logan Detachment
- Madison Detachment
- Williamson Detachment
- Wayne Detachment
Troop 6 Command - Beckley
- Beckley Detachment
- Gauley Bridge Detachment
- Hinton Detachment
- Jesse Detachment
- Lewisburg Detachment
- Oak Hill Detachment
- Princeton Detachment
- Rainelle Detachment
- Richwood Detachment
- Summersville Detachment
- Welch Detachment
- Whitesville Detachment
- Union Detachment
Troop 7 Parkways (WV Turnpike) Command - Beckley
- Parkways - Beckley Parkways Detachment
- Parkways - Charleston South Parkways Detachment
- Parkways - Princeton Parkways Detachment
Troop 8 Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI)
Fallen officers
Since the establishment of the West Virginia State Police, 40 officers have died while on duty.
See also
- List of law enforcement agencies in West Virginia
- West Virginia State Police Academy
- State Police (United States)
- State Patrol
- Highway Patrol
References
Additional references
- State Journal (in a May 2005 article)
- State Trooper: America's State Troopers and Highway Patrolmen (Turner Publishing Company)
External links
- West Virginia State Police website
- West Virginia State Police Association website
Source of article : Wikipedia
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