The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) is the state police force of Pennsylvania, responsible for statewide law enforcement. It was founded in 1905 by order of Governor Samuel Pennypacker, by signing senate bill 278 on May 2. The bill was signed in response to the Great Anthracite Strike of 1902, private police forces used by mine and mill owners to stop worker strikes (the Coal and Iron Police) and the inability or refusal of local police or sheriffs offices to enforce the law. The strike lasted from May 15, 1902 to October 23, 1902 and ended with the help of Theodore Roosevelt the sitting president of the time. The department became the first uniformed police organization of its kind in the United States and a model for other state police agencies throughout the nation. PSP enlisted members are referred to as "troopers". Up until 1963 married men were not allowed to apply to state police, and active trooper had to seek permission from their superior officer to get married. In 1971 the first female applicant to the state police academy was accepted as a cadet and graduated in 1972. As of October 2016, the state police have 4,233 state troopers, 5% of them being women, and more than 1,850 civilian support staff. The state police academy is located in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
The current commissioner is Colonel Tyree C. Blocker, nominated by Governor Tom Wolf, and was confirmed by the Pennsylvania Senate. Colonel Blocker replaced Marcus Brown who failed to secure confirmation by the State's legislature, and recently resigned as commissioner. After resigning, former Colonel Brown was named to Governor Wolf's state office of Homeland Security as the new director. Some say Colonel Brown had trouble receiving the necessary votes for nomination due to the majority of his history and experience coming from Maryland and the fact that Brown was never employed as a State Trooper. There was also unrest among current and retired PA State Troopers due to the fact that Brown wore the PSP uniform but had never gone through the PA State Police Academy. Colonel Brown lost the senate vote 28 to 22.
Pennsylvania State Police Academy
In 1924 a State Police training academy was built in Dauphin County, Hershey on Cocoa Avenue. The site was actually located in the Hershey Inn and it remained at this location until 1960 when it was moved to 175 Hersheypark Dr, Hershey, PA 17033. The current location is fitted with kennels and stables and located only a few miles from the original site. Once accepted into the State Police Academy recruits endure a rigorous 27 week training period. Recruits live at the academy and are only permitted to go home on certain designated weekends. Recruits who fail to complete physical training in required times or who show any other type of deficiencies may be restricted from going home. While attending training cadets are put on an 18-month probationary period, and can be dismissed at any point in their training by the Commissioner under any form of incompetence, inefficiency, or general violation of rules and regulations.
Applicant Requirements
- Applicants must be at least 20 years of age on or before the date the application is complete.
- Applicants must be at least 21 years of age and cannot have reached their 40th birthday prior to or on the date of appointment as a State Police Cadet.
- US Citizenship
- Valid Drivers License
- Be PA resident at the time of graduation.
Education Requirement
- Highschool Diploma or GED
- Associate degree or a 60-hour credit logged from credited university or college
Hiring Process
- Candidates will be subjected to multiple physical fitness screenings
- Medical Evaluations
- Psychological testing, MMPI-2 a computer administered personality assessment
- Background Investigation
- Panel Interview
- Written Test
Facilities
The PSP owns and operates a myriad of facilities to conduct law enforcement across the Commonwealth. The following is the breakdown.
Pennsylvania State Police Troops
Troop A, Area II
- Cambria, Indiana, Somerset, Westmoreland Counties; Troop HQ - Greensburg
Command Staff
- Commanding Officer: Captain
- Patrol Section Commander: Lieutenant
- Criminal Investigation Section Commander: Lieutenant
- Staff Service Section Commander: Lieutenant
Troop B, Area I
- Allegheny, Fayette, Greene, Washington Counties; Troop HQ - Washington
Command Staff
- Commanding Officer: Captain David J. Heckman
- Criminal Investigation Section Commander: Lieutenant Eric V. Erhardt
- Patrol Section Commander: Lieutenant John C. Kean
- Staff Services Section Commander: Lieutenant Rachel E. Graham
Troop C, Area I
- Clarion, Clearfield, Elk, Forest, Jefferson, McKean Counties; Troop HQ - Punxsutawney
Command Staff
- Commanding Officer: Captain Bernard J. Petrovsky
- Criminal Investigation Section Commander: Lieutenant Christopher J. Neal
- Patrol Section Commander: Lieutenant Gregory S. Kunselman
- Staff Services Section Commander: Lieutenant Kevin M. Doverspike
Troop D, Area I
- Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Lawrence, Mercer Counties; Troop HQ - Butler
Command Staff
- Commanding Officer: Captain Steve J. Ignatz
- Criminal Investigation Section Commander: Lieutenant Eric S. Hermick
- Staff Services Section, Commander: Lieutenant Jamie D. Clark
- Station Commander, Butler: Sergeant Rachel E. Graham
- Patrol Section Commander: Lieutenant Chris D. Yanoff
Troop E, Area I
- Crawford, Erie, Venango, Warren Counties; Troop HQ - Lawrence Park
Command Staff
- Commanding Officer: Captain James B. Basinger
- Patrol Section Commander: Lieutenant Kirk R. Reese
- Crime Section Commander: Lieutenant Wayne C. Kline
- Staff Section Commander: Lieutenant Carl P. Medsger
Troop F, Area III
- Cameron, Clinton, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Potter, Snyder, Tioga, Union Counties; Troop HQ - Montoursville
Command Staff
- Commanding Officer: Captain Margaret D. Dropinski
- Patrol Section Commander: Lieutenant Ryan R. Maxwell
- Criminal Investigation Section Commander: Lieutenant Sherman D. Shadle
- Staff Services Section Commander: Lieutenant Walter J. Witkowski
Troop G, Area II
- Bedford, Blair, Centre, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin Counties; Troop HQ - Hollidaysburg
Command Staff
- Commanding Officer: Captain David L. Cain
- Patrol Section Commander: Lieutenant Troy H. Park
- Criminal Investigation Section Commander: Lieutenant James E. Emigh
- Staff Services Section Commander: Lieutenant Christopher L. Storm
Troop H, Area II
- Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Perry, York Counties; Troop and *Department HQ - Harrisburg
Command Staff
- Commanding Officer: Captain Adam R. Kosheba
- Patrol Section Commander: Lieutenant Robert F. Tobias
- Criminal Investigation Section Commander: Lieutenant Linette G. Quinn
- Staff Services Section Commander: Lieutenant Frederick L. Hess
Troop J, Area IV
- Chester, Lancaster Counties; Troop HQ - Lancaster
Command Staff
- Commanding Officer: Captain Maurice A. Tomlinson
- Patrol Section Commander: Lieutenant Michael C. Witmer
- Criminal Investigation Section Commander: Lieutenant Brandon J. Daniels
- Staff Services Section Commander: Lieutenant William J. Donahue
Troop K, Area IV
- Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia Counties; Troop HQ - Philadelphia
Command Staff
- Commanding Officer: Captain Bruce W. Williams
- Patrol Section Commander: Lieutenant Bradley J. Getz
- Criminal Investigation Section Commander: Lieutenant James B. Kemm
- Staff Services Section Commander: Lt. Michelle N. Swantner
Troop L, Area IV
- Berks, Lebanon, Schuylkill Counties; Troop HQ - Reading
Command Staff
- Commanding Officer: Captain Kristal M. Turner-Childs
- Patrol Section Commander: Lieutenant Robert C. Wagner
- Criminal Investigation Section Commander: Lieutenant Christopher Blugis
- Staff Services Section Commander: Lieutenant Vincent K. D'Angelo
Troop M, Area IV
- Bucks, Lehigh, Northampton Counties; Troop HQ - Bethlehem
Command Staff
- Commanding Officer: Captain Richard H. D’Ambrosio
- Patrol Section Commander: Lieutenant Kreg S. Rodrigues
- Criminal Investigation Section Commander: Lieutenant Joseph F. Sokolofski
- Staff Services Section Commander: Lieutenant Edward C. Murphy
Troop N, Area III
- Carbon, Columbia, Lower Luzerne, Monroe Counties; Troop HQ - Hazleton
Command Staff
- Commanding Officer: Captain David T. Dougalas
- Patrol Section Commander: Lieutenant William W. Cawley
- Criminal Investigation Section Commander: Lieutenant Jason G. Reznick
- Staff Services Section Commander: Lieutenant
Troop P, Area III
- Bradford, Upper Luzerne, Sullivan, Wyoming Counties; Troop HQ - Wyoming
Command Staff
- Commanding Officer: Captain James E. Degnan
- Patrol Section Commander: Lieutenant Gary T. Vogue
- Criminal Investigation Section Commander: Lieutenant Richard L. Krawetz
- Staff Services Section Commander: Lieutenant Gary L. Thomas
Troop R, Area III
- Lackawanna, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne Counties; Troop HQ - Dunmore
Command Staff
- Commanding Officer: Captain Christopher L. Paris
- Patrol Section Commander: Lieutenant Charles G. Sands
- Criminal Investigation Section Commander: Lieutenant Peter P. Gutowski
- Staff Services Section Commander: Lieutenant Brian J. Cawley
Troop T
- Turnpike; Troop HQ - Penna. Turnpike Commission HQ, Highspire
Command Staff
- Commanding Officer: Captain Paul S. Gustaitis
- Eastern Patrol Section Commander: Lieutenant Gary L. Dance Jr.
- Central Patrol Section Commander: Lieutenant Joseph A. Loughran
- Western Patrol Section Commander: Lieutenant Richard A. Bosch Jr.
- Staff Services Section Commander: Lieutenant Edward C. Murphy
Barracks listing by county
PSP bureaus and offices
The PSP also has many bureaus and subdivisions within the organization. This is by no means a complete list, merely a sampling of the breakdown.
- Bureau of Criminal Investigation
- Bureau of Emergency and Special Operations
- Bureau of Human Resources
- Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement
- Bureau of Records and Identification
- Bureau of Patrol
- Bureau of Integrity and Professional Standards
- Firearms Division
- Bureau of Technology Services
- Commonwealth Law Enforcement Assistance Network - C.L.E.A.N.
- Equal Employment Opportunity Office
- Municipal Police Officers' Education and Training Commission (MPOETC)
- Domestic Security Office
- Gaming Enforcement Office
Dispatching facilities
The Pennsylvania State Police was in the process of consolidating dispatch functions from the individual stations to one of five "Consolidated Dispatch Centers" (CDC). However, on July 30, 2012 The Pennsylvania State Police disbanded the CDCs and moved the dispatching operations back to the individual stations. Only two CDCs were operational - Harrisburg and Norristown. The stated reason for closing the operations at the CDCs, according to previous statements made by State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan before the Senate budget hearings, was to put more troopers back on the street. It is mandated that all PSP stations be manned on site 24/7 for emergencies and a point of refuge for people in distress. This became a problem when dispatchers, PCOs (Police Communication Operators), were moved to CDCs and the position of "Greeters" was created adding additional costs and manpower issues. When greeters were unavailable, troopers were assigned this task. Even non-CDC stations had a shortage of PCOs, in part caused by the number of PCOs required for minimum staffing at a CDC, causing troopers to regularly work as dispatchers at these stations.
Harrisburg
The Harrisburg CDC went operational in June 2004. It covered the Carlisle, Harrisburg, and Lykens stations in Troop H and the Ephrata and Lancaster Stations in Troop J. With the assumption of responsibility for the areas previously covered by the Philadelphia Highway Patrol, the Harrisburg CDC also covered the Reading and Hamburg Stations from Troop L. The Harrisburg CDC would have become the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for all PSP stations in Troops H, J, and L.
Norristown
The Norristown CDC went operational in November 2004. It covered the Philadelphia and Skippack stations in Troop K. The Norristown CDC would have become the PSAP for all PSP stations in Troops K, and M.
Other CDCs
The remaining three CDCs were to be located in Greensburg, Clarion, and Pittston. The Greensburg CDC would have covered Troops A, B, and G; the Clarion CDC would have covered Troops C, D, and E; the Pittston CDC would have covered Troops F, N, P, and R. Troop T stations are dispatched by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission at its Highspire headquarters.
Demographics
Gender
- Male: 95%
- Female: 5%
Ethnicity
- White: 81%
- African American/Black: 9%
- Hispanic: 5%
- Asian: <1%
- Native American <1%
Vehicles
The department currently operates a mixed fleet of vehicles including the new law enforcement specific Ford Police Interceptor sedan and SUV, Crown Victorias, Ford Expeditions and Dodge Chargers which are only used by PA Turn Pike Troopers.The PSP also owns and operates numerous helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. The PSP operates watercraft for the Delaware River in the Philadelphia area and Lake Erie.
Aviation
The PSP Aviation Section consists of thirty-five trooper pilots and three full-time mechanics, using eight helicopters and six airplanes statewide. These aircraft are stationed in seven aviation patrol units (APU) whose missions including, but not limited to: conducting searches and rescues; assisting in vehicle pursuits; conducting criminal surveillances; participating in marijuana eradication efforts; crime and traffic incident scene photography; transports; conducting emergency management and homeland security missions providing an aerial platform for incident command and control; and attending events promoting law enforcement efforts. The Aviation Section also provides air support to all federal, state and local law enforcement agencies within Pennsylvania and assists during non-emergency situations such as major civic and sporting events.
Weapons
The department adopted the SIG Sauer P227 semiautomatic pistol chambered in .45 Auto as their new service pistol. It holds 10+1 rounds. PSP submitted a solicitation for bids on May 9, 2014 for 150 such firearms for the next PSP academy cadet class to train with and keep as their issue duty sidearm. The SIG P227 (.45 ACP) will eventually replace all of the department's Glock 21 Gen4 (.45 ACP) pistols which were acquired in 2013. Those Glocks had replaced by trade-in 4,800 of the department's Glock 37 (.45 GAP caliber) handguns, which had replaced their Beretta 96D (.40 S&W) double-action-only (DAO) handguns back in 2007/2008.
Other firearms include the Colt AR-15 (including the LE6920 AND LE6940), 12-gauge shotguns (including the Remington 870 pump), and gas grenade launcher.
The current less-lethal weapons the PSP is utilizing consists of Taser technology, Pepper spray (OC), and expandable ASP straight baton.
Accreditation
The Pennsylvania State Police is the largest internationally accredited law enforcement agency in the world. This distinction was awarded to the Pennsylvania State Police on July 31, 1993, by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), an independent, non-profit organization based in Fairfax, Virginia.
Accreditation is a process used by professional law enforcement agencies to facilitate the creation, verification and maintenance of high-quality policies and procedures, via voluntary compliance with performance standards. CALEA's 446 standards address nine major law enforcement topics: role, responsibilities, and relationships with other agencies; organization, management, and administration; personnel structure; personnel process; operations; operational support; traffic operations; prisoner and court-related services; and auxiliary and technical services.
Members killed in the line of duty
Key'
  shaded rows with "SHP" in the Notes cell denotes the officer was a member of the Pennsylvania State Highway Patrol.
Superintendents and Commissioners since 1905
The following is a chronological listings of Commissioners of the Pennsylvania State Police:
Traditions
- The PSP was nationally recognized as the premiere state police agency in the early years of the 20th century. State troopers from North Carolina and Kentucky attended the training academy so they could start PSP-style state agencies in their respective states. NC trooper cadets at the academy in Raleigh and KY trooper cadets in Frankfort are frequently reminded they have a familial connection to the PSP through their training process history.
- The PSP was patterned after a military organization and PSP troopers have sometimes been referred to as "Soldiers of the Law." Divisions of the force are called "troops," and officers are known as "troopers" a title usually reserved for members of the United States Cavalry, and reminiscent of the early beginnings of the department when officers patrolled on horseback. Regional headquarters, at which single troopers were once required to live, are referred to as "barracks". The original concept was that the troopers did not apply to join the PSP but "enlisted" for two-year periods, after which they could be honorably discharged or apply for reenlistment. The longstanding two-year enlistment periods were phased out in 1961.
- Married men were initially barred from becoming state troopers. After 1927, troopers were allowed to marry after they had completed their first two-year enlistment if they had approval from the police superintendent. The PSP allowed married men to enlist in 1963.
- 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.
- PSP does not allow ride-alongs. Even state police cadets cannot "ride-along" prior to graduating the academy. This is done for numerous safety and liability reasons.
Misconduct
- 2000
Trooper Michael Evans pleaded guilty in October 2000 to sexual crimes committed against six women and teenage girls while on duty. He was sentenced to between five and ten years in custody.
- 2007
In September, 2007, Trooper Kevin Foley was arrested for the murder of a dentist, Dr. Yelenic, in Blairsville, PA.
- 2008
In July, 2008, Trooper Kevin Coleman was charged with protecting a prostitution ring based out of the Gables Truck Stop in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
- 2009
In May 2009, Trooper Shawn Dillard was found guilty by a federal court of using his position to protect an interstate prostitution ring based out of the Gables Truck Stop in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. This was the same investigation that led to the arrest of Trooper Coleman.
- 2011
In early 2011, as a result of a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union, the state police agreed to stop issuing tickets to people who swear. Press reports indicated the state police had issued as many as 700 such citations a year.
- 2012
In January 2012, Lieutenant Barry Eugene Staub, the commander of the state police barracks in York was arrested for driving while drunk. He retired when charges were brought against him.
- 2014
In March, 2014 Trooper Barry M Seafoss, Jr. pleaded guilty to killing a woman while driving drunk in 2012. He was sentenced to between six and 23 months confinement.
In popular culture
- An undercover PSP officer played by Sarah Jessica Parker co-stars with Bruce Willis playing a Pittsburgh Police River Rescue Squad officer in the 1993 movie Striking Distance.
- The PSP were featured in the CSI: NY episode "Redemption" as well as the Law & Order season 9 episode 10 titled "Hate".
- The PSP is featured in the 2004 TV Film Boa vs. Python.
- Featured in the movie For Richer or Poorer.
- Stephen King's novel From a Buick 8 features Troop D in a fictional town named Statler.
- The PSP were featured in the movie Unstoppable starring Denzel Washington where a runaway train passes through numerous towns and townships within the state of Pennsylvania.
See also
- List of law enforcement agencies in Pennsylvania
- List of Pennsylvania state agencies
- Pennsylvania Capitol Police
- Highway patrol
- State patrol
- State police
References
External links
- ODMP memorial for Pennsylvania State Police
- Official Web Site
- Official Recruiting Web Site
- Pennsylvania State Police History
- Pennsylvania State Troopers Association
- Retired State Police Association of Pennsylvania
- Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics, 2000: Data for Individual State and Local Agencies with 100 or More Officers
- PA Troops Directory [1]
- "PA State Police Training Academy"[2]
- "United States Department of Labor"[3]
- "PA Trooper History"[4]
- "The Greatest Strike Ever"[5]
- "How to Become a Police Officer"[6]