West Virginia State Police
Encyclopedia
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.
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 C.R. "Jay" Smithers who replaced Colonel Timothy Pack.
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 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).
Training at the paramilitary academy lasts about 28 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. Cadets log in about 1420 hours of training by the time they graduate from the academy.
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 are not part of the State Police like in some states, but have their own separate agency.
Troop 1 Command - Shinnston
Troop 2 Command - Charles Town
Troop 3 Command - Elkins
Troop 4 Command - South Charleston
Troop 5 Command - Logan
Troop 6 Command - Beckley
Troop 7 Command - Parkway Authority
Troop 8 Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI)
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
organization, state law enforcement agency in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
that provides statewide police services to the 1.83 million residents in West Virginia. It is the fourth oldest 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...
agency and was born in the second extraordinary session of the West Virginia Legislature
West Virginia Legislature
The West Virginia Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of West Virginia. A bicameral legislative body, the Legislature is split between the upper Senate and the lower House of Delegates. It was established under Article VI of the West Virginia Constitution following the state's...
on June 19, 1919 as a result of uprisings surrounding organized labor in the coal and mine industries.
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.Today
Like other state law enforcement agencies, West VirginiaWest Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
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 C.R. "Jay" Smithers who replaced Colonel Timothy Pack.
West Virginia State Police troopers wear a forest-green uniform and campaign hat
Campaign hat
A campaign cover is a broad-brimmed felt or straw hat, with a high crown, pinched symmetrically at the four corners .It is associated with the New Zealand Army, the Royal Canadian...
. They receive their training at the West Virginia State Police Academy
West Virginia State Police Academy
The West Virginia State Police Academy is a law enforcement training institution, operated by the West Virginia State Police, located in Institute, West Virginia. The academy trains West Virginia troopers for the State Police force and all newly hired municipal, university police officers, sheriff...
located in Institute
Institute, West Virginia
Institute is an unincorporated community on the Kanawha River in Kanawha County, West Virginia, USA. The community lies off of Interstate 64 and West Virginia Route 25, and has grown to intermingle with nearby Dunbar...
, a suburb of Charleston
Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in Kanawha County. As of the 2010 census, it has a population of 51,400, and its metropolitan area 304,214. It is the county seat of Kanawha County.Early...
, and near the agency's headquarters in South Charleston
South Charleston, West Virginia
South Charleston is a city in Kanawha County, West Virginia, U.S. The population was 13,450 at the 2010 census. South Charleston was established in 1906, but not incorporated until 1919 by special charter enacted by the West Virginia Legislature...
. Upon appointment, cadets undergo an intense training program at the 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 18 push-ups/minute, 27 sit-ups/minute and be able to run 1.5 miles (2.4 km) in a maximum time limit of 15 minutes 20 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 28 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. Cadets log in about 1420 hours of training by the time they graduate from the academy.
Personnel
Like many police agencies nationwide, the shortage of sworn personnel in some counties has raised debates about the need for more funding to recruit more cadets. As of June 2010, the agency employed 659 sworn officers and 359 civilian staff members, making it de facto the largest law enforcement agency in West Virginia. Short in man power or not, the State Police is heavily relied upon to assist in some rural counties.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 are not part of the State Police like in some states, but have their own separate agency.
Rank Structure
| Title | Insignia |
|---|---|
| Superintendent Superintendent (police) Superintendent , often shortened to "super", is a rank in British police services and in most English-speaking Commonwealth nations. In many Commonwealth countries the full version is superintendent of police... - 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... |
 |
| 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... |
 |
| 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. ... |
 |
| 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.... |
 |
| Lieutenant Lieutenant A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank... |
 |
| First Sergeant First Sergeant First sergeant is the name of a military rank used in many countries, typically a senior non-commissioned officer.-Singapore:First Sergeant is a Specialist in the Singapore Armed Forces. First Sergeants are the most senior of the junior Specialists, ranking above Second Sergeants, and below Staff... |
 |
| 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.... |
 |
| Trooper First Class Trooper First Class Trooper first class 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, it is a rank below senior trooper, yet above trooper. The insignia for this rank consists of a gold colored 'TFC' collar pin worn... |
 |
| Senior Trooper Senior Trooper Senior trooper is a rank used by several state police agencies within the United States and in some world militaries.It is the third class in the progressive series of state trooper ranks. It is a step below master trooper, yet above trooper first class... |
 |
| 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... |
|
Vehicles
Most of the State Police vehicles are Ford Crown Victorias with blue and gold colors accompanied by the agency's logo on the side front doors. In recent years, the agency has phased in Chevrolet Impalas, Chevrolet Trailblazers and Ford Explorers into its fleet. The agency also uses unmarked vehicles (usually assigned to command staff members statewide), Dodge Durangos and Chargers. Typical emergency lighting on a fully marked cruiser are the overheads (bar lights) and front wig wags.Organization
- Cabinet Secretary
- Superintendent of the State Police
- Deputy Superintdent
- 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 Superintdent
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
- Paden City Detachment
- Shinnston Detachment
Troop 2 Command - Charles Town
- Berkeley Springs Detachment
- Charles Town Detachment
- Keyser Detachment
- Martinsburg Detachment
- Moorefield/Petersburg Detachment
- Romney Detachment
Troop 3 Command - Elkins
- Buckhannon Detachment
- Elkins Detachment
- Franklin Detachment
- Glenville Detachment
- Marlinton Detachment
- Parsons Detachment
- Philippi 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
- Gilbert Detachment
- Hamlin Detachment
- Huntington Detachment
- Logan Detachment
- Madison 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 Command - Parkway Authority
- Parkways - Beckley Detachment
- Parkways - Charleston Detachment
Troop 8 Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI)
Fallen officers
Since the establishment of the West Virginia State Police, 38 officers have died in the line of duty.| Officer | Date of Death | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Private Ernest Ripley | |
Gunfire |
| Private Charles M. Kackley | |
Gunfire |
| Private William L. McMillion | |
Gunfire |
| Private George A. Duling | |
Gunfire (Accidental) |
| Private Howard A. Deem | |
Automobile accident |
| Private James Shrewsbury | |
Gunfire |
| Private Ulric C. Crawford | |
Gunfire |
| Private Theodore R. Meadows | |
Motorcycle accident |
| Private James L. Lowe | |
Gunfire |
| Private Blake A. Michael | |
Motorcycle accident |
| Private Arza A. Allen | |
Motorcycle accident |
| Sergeant William Hall | |
Motorcycle accident |
| Trooper Farley K. Litton | |
Motorcycle accident |
| Trooper Allen Henry Bennett Jeffreys | |
Vehicular assault |
| Trooper Franklin D. Patrick | |
Automobile accident |
| Sergeant Newton Tressel Sites | |
Aircraft accident |
| Trooper Burr White Harrison | |
Automobile accident |
| Sergeant Joseph Pierce Horne | |
Gunfire |
| Corporal Arthur M. Hurst | |
Drowned |
| Trooper Robert F. Rulong | |
Vehicular assault |
| Corporal Harry E. Robinson | |
Automobile accident |
| Corporal William Joseph Shrewsbury | |
Gunfire |
| Trooper Robert Ball Noechel | |
Gunfire |
| Trooper Hugh Donald Swartz | |
Gunfire |
| Trooper First Class Thomas Dean Hercules | |
Gunfire |
| Trooper Charles Henry Johnson | |
Gunfire |
| Trooper Bruce Thompson Brown | |
Gunfire |
| Corporal Dewey C. Shrewsbury | |
Gunfire (Accidental) |
| Trooper Philip S. Kesner | |
Gunfire |
| Corporal Carlen Bill Stone | |
Aircraft accident |
| Trooper Harry G. Lucas Jr. | |
Aircraft accident |
| Trooper Jonathan David Harris | |
Automobile accident |
| Trooper William Howard Phillips | |
Automobile accident |
| Trooper First Class James Thomas Brammer | |
Gunfire |
| Senior Trooper Larry Gene Hacker | |
Gunfire |
| Lieutenant Charles Matthew Turner | |
Aircraft accident |
| Senior Trooper Douglas Wayne Bland | |
Automobile accident |
| Trooper Brian W. Linn | |
Automobile accident |
See also
- List of law enforcement agencies in West Virginia
- West Virginia State Police AcademyWest Virginia State Police AcademyThe West Virginia State Police Academy is a law enforcement training institution, operated by the West Virginia State Police, located in Institute, West Virginia. The academy trains West Virginia troopers for the State Police force and all newly hired municipal, university police officers, sheriff...
- 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...
Additional references
- State JournalState JournalThe State Journal is a weekly newspaper based in Charleston, West Virginia and published by West Virginia Media Holdings. It is the only newspaper with political and general news content distributed throughout the state of West Virginia....
(in a May 2005 article) - State Trooper: America's State Troopers and Highway Patrolmen (Turner Publishing Company)