Colorado State Patrol
Encyclopedia
The Colorado State Patrol (originally known as the Colorado State Highway Courtesy Patrol), based in Lakewood, Colorado
, is a division of the Colorado Department of Public Safety, and is one of the official state police
agencies of Colorado
, along with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and several smaller state agencies. The Colorado State Patrol primarily enforces traffic laws on state highways and guards the state capitol and the governor of Colorado.
at the time. Since two-way radios weren't installed until 1949, officers usually received calls by visiting local gas stations. After dispatchers telephoned the station, the attendant would then place a red flag along the roadway, which would alert the officers to the call.
The patrol was met with opposition from the public when it was formed, as well as from other law enforcement agencies, who thought the patrol would endanger their jurisdiction. Therefore, Colorado legislature carefully outlined the duties of the agency in the Patrol Act, which states that "it shall be their duty to promote safety, protect human life and preserve the highways of Colorado by the intelligent, courteous, and strict enforcement of the laws and regulation of this state relating to highways." This became the motto of the Colorado State Patrol.
revolvers. The patrols carry the Smith & Wesson M&P .40. All Troopers are issued a shotgun
and are given the option to carry a department owned or personally owned rifle, either a M-14 or a AR-15
.
and OC
. Currently one metro Denver troop is in the pilot phase for the Taser
.
emphasis is to identify and eliminate at-risk driving behavior.
Investigative Services Section
Executive Security Unit
Homeland Security Section
Motor Carrier Safety Section
Hazardous Materials Section
Immigration Enforcement Unit
Aircraft Section
Motorcycle Unit
The most recent being Trooper Zachariah Templeton, who was struck by a vehicle on I-76 on October 11, 2007, while helping a man load plastic water containers that had fallen off of his trailer. He died the next day. Another trooper, Trooper Scott Hinshaw was seriously injured. Trooper Hinshaw had just gotten off the phone with his wife and was looking forward to his anniversary that night. Trooper Templeton is survived by his young daughter.
The most well-known death of a Colorado State Trooper is that of Trooper Jason Lee Manspeaker on January 23, 2001. Trooper Manspeaker was investigating a possible sighting of the 'Texas Seven' when he was involved in a fatal automobile accident. The 'Texas Seven' were responsible for the death of Officer Aubrey Wright Hawkins of the Irving, Texas Police Department
Lakewood, Colorado
Lakewood is a Home Rule Municipality that is the most populous city in Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Lakewood is the fifth most populous city in the State of Colorado and the 172nd most populous city in the United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that in April 1, 2010...
, is a division of the Colorado Department of Public Safety, and is one of the official state police
State police
State police are a type of sub-national territorial police force, particularly in Australia and the United States. Some other countries have analogous police forces, such as the provincial police in some Canadian provinces, while in other places, the same responsibilities are held by national...
agencies of Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, along with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and several smaller state agencies. The Colorado State Patrol primarily enforces traffic laws on state highways and guards the state capitol and the governor of Colorado.
History
Founded in 1935 with only 44 men, it was one of only four law enforcement agencies serving in ColoradoColorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
at the time. Since two-way radios weren't installed until 1949, officers usually received calls by visiting local gas stations. After dispatchers telephoned the station, the attendant would then place a red flag along the roadway, which would alert the officers to the call.
The patrol was met with opposition from the public when it was formed, as well as from other law enforcement agencies, who thought the patrol would endanger their jurisdiction. Therefore, Colorado legislature carefully outlined the duties of the agency in the Patrol Act, which states that "it shall be their duty to promote safety, protect human life and preserve the highways of Colorado by the intelligent, courteous, and strict enforcement of the laws and regulation of this state relating to highways." This became the motto of the Colorado State Patrol.
Weapons
Until the switch to auto-loading semi-automatic pistols, The CSP carried blue-steel, 4 inch barreled Colt PythonColt Python
The Colt Python is a .357 Magnum caliber revolver formerly manufactured by Colt's Manufacturing Company of Hartford, Connecticut. It is sometimes referred to as a "Combat Magnum". It was first introduced in 1955, the same year as Smith & Wesson's M29 .44 Magnum. The now discontinued Colt Python...
revolvers. The patrols carry the Smith & Wesson M&P .40. All Troopers are issued a shotgun
Shotgun
A shotgun is a firearm that is usually designed to be fired from the shoulder, which uses the energy of a fixed shell to fire a number of small spherical pellets called shot, or a solid projectile called a slug...
and are given the option to carry a department owned or personally owned rifle, either a M-14 or a AR-15
AR-15
The AR-15 is a lightweight, 5.56 mm, air-cooled, gas-operated, magazine-fed semi-automatic rifle, with a rotating-lock bolt, actuated by direct impingement gas operation. It is manufactured with the extensive use of aluminum alloys and synthetic materials....
.
Less-Lethal Weapons
All Troopers are issued an ASP batonASP, Inc.
Armament Systems and Procedures, Inc. , is an offensive compliance weapons manufacturer providing equipment to law enforcement and private security companies. ASP is perhaps best known for its telescoping batons.-History:...
and OC
Pepper spray
Pepper spray, also known as OC spray , OC gas, and capsicum spray, is a lachrymatory agent that is used in riot control, crowd control and personal self-defense, including defense against dogs and bears...
. Currently one metro Denver troop is in the pilot phase for the Taser
Taser
A Taser is an electroshock weapon that uses electrical current to disrupt voluntary control of muscles. Its manufacturer, Taser International, calls the effects "neuromuscular incapacitation" and the devices' mechanism "Electro-Muscular Disruption technology"...
.
Strategic Goals
- To provide a safe and secure environment on Colorado's highways.
- To secure necessary resources to provide expected customer service.
- To provide an environment for employees which is conducive to high quality service.
- To maintain a highly trained, motivated, competent, work force providing professional service.
- To provide high quality law enforcement service through sharing of resources to maximize taxpayer dollars.
Mission
- Enforce all the laws of the state of Colorado on approximately 8483 miles (13,652 km) of state highways and more than 57000 miles (91,732.4 km) of county roads.
- Investigate and report traffic crashes occurring on public property.
- Direct, control and regulate motor vehicle traffic on public roadways.
- Inspect vehicles for safety-related equipment violations.
- Inspect vehicles carrying livestock for brand inspection certificates.
- Provide community education and administer safety programs to the public.
- Regulate road closures for special events, inclement weather, or when necessary to prevent further injury or damage following an emergency.
- Promulgate and enforce rules and regulations for commercial motor vehicles.
- Operate a state-wide law enforcement telecommunications system.
- Perform criminal interdiction on Colorado highways, focusing on the transport of illegal drugs.
- Assist in state homeland security efforts.
- Provide emergency assistance in the event of major disasters, civil protests, or when requested by local law enforcement.
Commissioned Officers
| Rank | Insignia | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Colonel Colonel Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures... |
 |
Chief of the Patrol |
| Lieutenant Colonel Lieutenant colonel Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence... |
 |
Region Commander |
| Major Major Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ... |
 |
District/Branch Commander |
| Captain Police captain - France :France uses the rank of capitaine for management duties in both uniformed and plain-clothed policing. The rank comes senior to lieutenant and junior to commandant.... |
Troop/Section Commander | |
Non-Commissioned Officers
| Rank | Insignia |
|---|---|
| Sergeant Major Sergeant Major Sergeants major is a senior non-commissioned rank or appointment in many militaries around the world. In Commonwealth countries, Sergeants Major are usually appointments held by senior non-commissioned officers or warrant officers... |
 |
| Master Sergeant Master Sergeant A master sergeant is the military rank for a senior non-commissioned officer in some armed forces.-Israel Defense Forces:Rav samal rishoninsignia IDF... |
 |
| Sergeant Sergeant Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent.... |
 |
| Corporal Corporal Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4.... |
 |
| Master Trooper Master Trooper Master trooper is a rank used by several state police agencies within the United States and in some world militaries.In particular, in the Louisiana State Police, in the United States, it is a rank below sergeant, yet above senior trooper. The insignia for this rank consists of a gold colored 'MT'... and Technician Technician A technician is a worker in a field of technology who is proficient in the relevant skills and techniques, with a relatively practical understanding of the theoretical principles. Experienced technicians in a specific tool domain typically have intermediate understanding of theory and expert... |
 |
| Trooper Trooper (police rank) Trooper is a rank used by several civilian police forces in the United States. In its plural form, troopers, it generally refers to members of state highway patrol or state police agencies, even though those officers may not necessarily be of the rank of trooper.For example, in the Louisiana State... |
|
Special programs
Alive at 25
A community program designed to impact the future of traffic safety, Alive at 25 focuses educational effort to youths between the ages of 14 and 25. Itsemphasis is to identify and eliminate at-risk driving behavior.
Seat Belt Survivor Program
Since the CSP recognizes that seat belts are an important means of preventing injury or death in automobile accidents, this program exists to identify and recognize motorists who have survived a potentially fatal or serious-injury crash through the use of seat belts.Specialty Units
Accident Reconstruction TeamInvestigative Services Section
Executive Security Unit
Homeland Security Section
Motor Carrier Safety Section
Hazardous Materials Section
Immigration Enforcement Unit
Aircraft Section
Motorcycle Unit
Fallen officers
Since the establishment of the Colorado State Patrol, 24 officers have died in the line of duty.The most recent being Trooper Zachariah Templeton, who was struck by a vehicle on I-76 on October 11, 2007, while helping a man load plastic water containers that had fallen off of his trailer. He died the next day. Another trooper, Trooper Scott Hinshaw was seriously injured. Trooper Hinshaw had just gotten off the phone with his wife and was looking forward to his anniversary that night. Trooper Templeton is survived by his young daughter.
The most well-known death of a Colorado State Trooper is that of Trooper Jason Lee Manspeaker on January 23, 2001. Trooper Manspeaker was investigating a possible sighting of the 'Texas Seven' when he was involved in a fatal automobile accident. The 'Texas Seven' were responsible for the death of Officer Aubrey Wright Hawkins of the Irving, Texas Police Department
See also
- List of law enforcement agencies in Colorado
- State policeState policeState police are a type of sub-national territorial police force, particularly in Australia and the United States. Some other countries have analogous police forces, such as the provincial police in some Canadian provinces, while in other places, the same responsibilities are held by national...
- State patrol
- Highway patrolHighway patrolA highway patrol is either a police unit created primarily for the purpose of overseeing and enforcing traffic safety compliance on roads and highways, or a detail within an existing local or regional police agency that is primarily concerned with such duties.Duties of highway patrols or traffic...
- State of Colorado