The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) is the state police agency of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, responsible for statewide law enforcement. The Pennsylvania State Police is a full service law enforcement agency which handles both traffic and criminal law enforcement. The Pennsylvania State Police was founded in 1905 by order of GovernorSamuel Pennypacker, by signing Senate Bill 278 on May 2, 1905. The bill was signed in response to the Great Anthracite Strike of 1902. Leading up to the Anthracite Strike, private police forces (the coal and iron police) were used by mine and mill owners to stop worker strikes. The inability or refusal of local police or sheriffs' offices to enforce the law directly influenced the signing of Bill 278. The Anthracite Strike lasted from May 15 to October 23, 1902, and was ended with the help of Theodore Roosevelt, the sitting president at the time.
PSP enlisted members are referred to as "Troopers". Up until 1963, married men were not allowed to apply to the state police, and active troopers had to seek permission from their superior officer to get married. As of 2021, the state police has approximately 4,547 State Troopers and more than 1,850 civilian support staff.[3]
Pennsylvania State Police Academy
In 1924, a State Police training academy was built in Hershey, Pennsylvania, on Cocoa Avenue. The site was located at the Hershey Inn and it remained at this location until 1960 when it was moved to 175 Hersheypark Drive, Hershey, Pennsylvania. The current location is fitted with kennels, stables and a range, among other facilities, and is located only a few miles from the original site. Once accepted into the Pennsylvania State Police Academy cadets endure a rigorous 28-week training period.[4] Cadets live at the academy in barracks style quarters and are only permitted to go home on designated weekends. Cadets 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.[5] The current drop-out rate for new recruits in the academy is approximately 20 percent per class.
Operations
Under Pennsylvania law, a municipality may choose to have the state police act as its local law enforcement, and the municipality does not have to pay any fees to do so. Unlike other states, Pennsylvania does not use county sheriff's offices to patrol areas without local police, and so the PSP covers areas without local police departments. As of 2016[update] 1,287 municipalities in the state used the PSP as their only local law enforcement.[6] The full PSP municipalities that have a population of 10,000 or below combined have about 17% of the total number of people in Pennsylvania; these municipalities make up about 50% of the total municipalities in the state.[7] In 2019, about 66% of the municipalities in the state had PSP as the sole law enforcement or had a part-time police force combined with PSP.[8] As of 2016[update] all areas in the following counties use PSP as their local law enforcement (either fully, or with part-time police departments): Cameron, Forest, Fulton, Juniata, Potter, Sullivan, Susquehanna, and Wyoming.[6]
Facilities
The PSP owns and operates a myriad of facilities to conduct law enforcement operations across the Commonwealth.
The following is the breakdown:
Barracks listing by county
County
Troop
Station
Adams
H
Gettysburg
Allegheny
B
Pittsburgh
Allegheny
T
Gibsonia
Allegheny
T
Jefferson Hills
Armstrong
D
Kittanning
Beaver
D
Beaver
Bedford
G
Bedford
Bedford
T
Everett
Berks
L
Reading
Berks
L
Hamburg
Blair
G
Hollidaysburg
Bradford
P
Towanda
Bucks
M
Trevose
Bucks
M
Dublin
Butler
D
Butler
Cambria
A
Ebensburg
Cameron
F
Emporium
Carbon
T
Pocono
Carbon
N
Lehighton
Centre
G
Rockview
Chester
J
Avondale
Chester
J
Embreeville
Clarion
C
Clarion
Clearfield
C
Clearfield
Clearfield
C
DuBois
Clinton
F
Lamar
Columbia
N
Bloomsburg
Crawford
E
Meadville
Cumberland
H
Carlisle
Cumberland
T
Newville
Dauphin
T
Highspire
Dauphin
H
Harrisburg
Dauphin
H
Lykens
Delaware
K
Media
Elk
C
Ridgway
Erie
E
Erie
Erie
E
Corry
Erie
E
Girard
Fayette
B
Uniontown
Forest
C
Marienville
Franklin
H
Chambersburg
Fulton
G
McConnellsburg
Greene
B
Waynesburg
Huntingdon
G
Huntingdon
Indiana
A
Indiana
Jefferson
C
Punxsutawney
Lackawanna
R
Dunmore
Lancaster
T
Bowmansville
Lancaster
J
Lancaster
Lawrence
D
New Castle
Lebanon
L
Jonestown
Lehigh
M
Fogelsville
Lehigh
M
Bethlehem
Luzerne
N
Hazleton
Luzerne
P
Shickshinny
Luzerne
P
Wyoming
Lycoming
F
Montoursville
McKean
C
Lewis Run
Mercer
D
Mercer
Mifflin
G
Lewistown
Monroe
N
Stroudsburg
Monroe
N
Fern Ridge
Montgomery
T
King of Prussia
Montgomery
K
Skippack
Northampton
M
Belfast
Northumberland
F
Stonington
Northumberland
F
Milton
Perry
H
Newport
Philadelphia
K
Philadelphia
Pike
R
Blooming Grove
Potter
F
Coudersport
Schuylkill
L
Schuylkill Haven
Schuylkill
L
Frackville
Snyder
F
Selinsgrove
Somerset
A
Somerset
Somerset
T
Somerset
Sullivan
P
Laporte
Susquehanna
R
Gibson
Tioga
F
Mansfield
Union
F
Milton
Venango
E
Franklin
Warren
E
Warren
Washington
B
Washington
Wayne
R
Honesdale
Westmoreland
A
Greensburg
Westmoreland
B
Belle Vernon
Westmoreland
T
New Stanton
Westmoreland
A
Kiski Valley
Wyoming
P
Tunkhannock
York
J
York
Bureaus and offices
The PSP also has many bureaus and subdivisions within the organization.[9]
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 Forensic Services
Bureau of Human Resources
Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement
Bureau of Records and Identification
Bureau of Patrol
Bureau of Integrity and Professional Standards
Bureau of Communications and Information Services
Bureau of Staff Services
Bureau of Research & Development
Bureau of Training & Education
Bureau of Gaming Enforcement
Commonwealth Law Enforcement Assistance Network – C.L.E.A.N.
Equal Employment Opportunity Office
Public Information Office
Recruitment and Special Services Office
Member Assistance Office
Department Discipline Office
Municipal Police Officers' Education and Training Commission (MPOETC)
Special Emergency Response Teams (SERT), which is the PA State Police's version of S.W.A.T
Negotiators
Uniform and rank structure
The uniform worn by PSP troopers is unique within Pennsylvania. In January 1988, the State Police changed the color of its uniforms. PSP troopers wore dark grey uniforms that confused them with some municipal police departments and Pennsylvania State Constables. By state law, no municipal (city, borough, or township) police department can wear the same exact uniform or color configuration as that of the PSP.
Uniform – troopers to sergeants
The current PSP uniform for troopers, corporals, and sergeants consists of a light gray uniform shirt with black shoulder epaulets. The PSP shoulder patch is worn on both sleeves of all uniform items. The PSP members are issued long sleeve shirts for the winter and short sleeve shirts for summer. However, PSP requires the black necktie to be worn year round. The uniform shirt consist of the trooper's nameplate over the right pocket and any awards the trooper has earned over the left pocket. The PSP is one of only five state police forces that do not wear a badge on their uniform shirts.[10][self-published source?] The original PSP uniform was modeled after the Constabulary forces in Europe and they did not have badges. It is history and tradition for troopers today to carry their badges in a wallet along with their photo ID card. The uniform trousers are a darker gray color with a one-inch-wide black stripe on the leg. PSP shoes and/or boots are also black in color.
The PSP duty belt is plain black leather. The duty holster is the level-2 model. The ammo pouch and handcuff case have hidden snap closure. The OC pepper spray and ASP baton holders are open top. The duty belt is held together with the trousers belt using four silver snap belt keepers.
The PSP trademark item is the campaign-style hat with the chin strap worn in the front under the chin on the winter campaign hat (as opposed to most agencies that wear the strap of the campaign hat behind the head). The hat contains a blackened commonwealth coat of arms. It is required to be worn whenever the trooper is outdoors. It is made of dark gray felt (for wintertime wear) or light gray straw (for summertime wear). The strap of the summer hat is worn behind the head.
The Class "A" Ceremonial Unit troopers wear a "full dress" uniform which is a charcoal gray military-style dress coat with black buttons. It is worn with matching charcoal gray military-style riding breeches and black high-rider leather boots. The duty belt is worn with the shoulder strap. This uniform is modeled after the original PSP history uniform.
Uniform – lieutenants to colonels
The uniforms for PSP Lieutenants, Captains, Majors, Lieutenant Colonels, and the Colonel are identical to that of the lower ranks, except for the following:
A gold-colored commonwealth coat of arms on the left collar and the officer's rank on the right collar.
Black stripes on trousers has a gold stripe within it of increasing width with higher rank.
The campaign hat is replaced with a military officer's style service cap with a gold-colored commonwealth seal. Captains and above have the distinctive "scrambled eggs" on the visor. Alternatively, officers may wear the campaign hat with a gold coat of arms with the duty uniform.
In addition to the minor detail changes, senior officers wear the four-button military coat for "Class A" functions. The coat has four gold-colored buttons, breast and hip pockets, and shoulder epaulets for the placement of the officer's current rank. A white shirt is worn with a black tie underneath. A system of "rank rings" are worn on each sleeve, similar to the rank-ring system used by the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and by land units of the Canadian Forces. Currently, the insignia worn by PSP senior officers are as follows:
The Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police holds the Rank of Colonel. The Commissioner is the Commander of the Pennsylvania state Police
Deputy Commissioner (Rank of Lieutenant Colonel)
The Deputy Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police holds the Rank of Lieutenant Colonel. The Deputy Commissioner is Second-In Command of the Pennsylvania state Police.
The PSP Aviation Section consists of thirty-five trooper pilots and three full-time mechanics, using six law enforcement specific Bell 407GX helicopters and six airplanes statewide. These aircraft are stationed in six aviation patrol units (APU).
Weapons
The Pennsylvania State Police utilizes the Walther PDP (Service Pistol) which is a 9×19mm Parabellum semi-automatic pistol designed in 2021 by Walther Arms as a replacement for the Walther PPQ. The Walther PDP is also mounted with an Aimpoint Acro P-2 red dot reflex sight.
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.[14]
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.[15]
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.
Adams created the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information (BCI&I) and named Captain Wilson C. Price to serve as the bureau's first chief.[18]
-
Office vacant
February 28, 1937
–
June 29, 1937
Office remained vacant for four months following the retirement of Adams
Superintendents of the Pennsylvania State Highway Patrol[d]
Under the leadership of Walp, on July 31, 1993, the Pennsylvania State Police became the largest accredited police agency in the world. The department had to comply with 773 professional police standards[34]
-
Maj. James B. Hazen
January 17, 1995
–
February 15, 1995
Served as acting commissioner following the retirement of Walp
Pennsylvania Constabulary 1905Pennsylvania Constabulary at McKee's Rock 1909
PSP Troopers are widely recognized for wearing the strap of their winter campaign hats under their chins, a tradition that goes back to the early 1900s, which was based on British and Irish Bobbies.
The PSP is one of only a handful of state police agencies that do not wear badges on their uniforms.
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.[citation needed]
The PSP was patterned after a military organization and PSP troopers have sometimes been referred to as "Soldiers of the Law and Order".[41] 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.[42]
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.[44][45]
2007
In September, 2007, Trooper Kevin Foley was arrested for the murder of a dentist, Dr. John Yelenic, in Blairsville, Pennsylvania.[46]
2008
In July, 2008, Trooper Kevin Coleman was charged with protecting a prostitution ring based out of the Gables Truck Stop in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.[47]
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.[48]
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.[49]
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.[50]
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.[51]
2017
Trooper Ryan Luckenbaugh was sentenced by Judge Scott A. Evans to 9 to 22 months in county prison on his official oppression, simple assault and harassment convictions. Luckenbaugh kicked a handcuffed man in the face while the man sat on the sidewalk and lied about it on official reports.[52]
2021
Trooper Robert E. Covington Jr., of Olyphant, PA, for his alleged involvement in illegal activity occurring at Sinners Swing Gentlemen's Club in Mayfield Borough, Lackawanna County. Covington, 48, is a 13-year veteran of PSP and was assigned to the Bureau of Gaming Enforcement, Pocono Downs Wilkes-Barre Office. He had been on restricted duty during the investigation and is currently suspended without pay pending resolution of the charges against him.
Trooper Joshua Ravel from the York barracks was charged with DUI while on duty after he showed up for his shift and drove from York to Lancaster and back for a special assignment. He was taken to the supervisors office where he appeared under the influence, and a chemical breath test revealed his blood alcohol content to be .144. A review of the dash camera footage from his cruiser showed he was unable to maintain his lane of travel several times during the drive.
Trooper Joshua Burney from the Lewis Run barracks in McKean county was charged with DUI while on duty after a colleague noticed he smelled of alcohol and had red, glossed over eyes. Trooper Burney was taken back to the barracks where preliminary field sobriety tests and a breath test showed signs of impairment. A blood draw test showed his blood alcohol content to be .086. A review of the dash camera footage from his cruiser showed he was unable to maintain his lane of travel several times during his response to an emergency call in Mount Jewett Borough.
Both troopers were suspended without pay pending to outcome of their cases. Trooper Burney was the second trooper to be charged with DUI on duty within 4 months along with Trooper Ravel. Both were on the job for the PA State Police for less than 2 years. Trooper Ravel graduated from the academy in June 2020, and Trooper Burney graduated August 2021.
2023
Trooper Michael J. Brown stationed at the Mansfield barracks was charged with vehicular homicide. An investigation into a crash indicated he attempted to pass a vehicle illegally across the double yellow lines on U.S. Route 6 in Sullivan Township in February. As a result, Brown's vehicle, a Jeep Grand Cherokee, struck an oncoming GMC Acadia, killing the driver, 47-year-old Christine Woodward.
The PSP were featured in the 2010 movie Unstoppable, in which a runaway train passes through numerous townships within the state of Pennsylvania.
Multiple PSP troopers and the department were featured in the Netflix series Evil Genius, which covered the murder of Brian Wells and the bank heist surrounding it.
PSP Criminal Investigators were featured in the first-season episode of TV series Cold Case Files, titled "Little Girl Lost".
PSP featured extensively, including fairly accurate depictions of uniforms and vehicles, in the film Angel Has Fallen.
In the 1994 movie Dumb and Dumber, a Pennsylvania police officer pulls over Harry and Lloyd.
^Alleged trooper sex acts listed Accusations of sexual misconduct on the Pa. state police force are outlined in a court filing, by Chris Gray, Philadelphia Inquirer, 14 June 2003, INQUIRER
^Trooper Pleads Guilty Michael Evans Gets 5-10 Years For Sexually Abusing 3 Girls, 3 Women, by Joseph P Ferry, 4 October 2000, The Morning Call
^Trooper arrested in dentist's killing, by Jim McKinnon, 28 September 2007 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
^Officer 2nd charged in prostitution inquiry, by Pete Shellem, 4 July 2008 Patriot News
^FBI press release "Former Pennsylvania State Trooper Convicted" dated 16 May 2009
^What the .... It's not illegal to swear at a state police officer, by the Associated Press, January 04, 2011
^Commander of York County state police barracks retires after DUI charge, by MIKE ARGENTO, 6 January 2012, Daily Record/Sunday News
^Ex-Trooper get jail time for fatal Upper Dublin Crash, by Margret Gibbons, 4 March 2014, The Intelligencer
^Ex-state trooper gets prison term for kicking handcuffed Harrisburg activist in the face, 18 April 2017, PennLive
Notes
^Known as "Superintendent of The Pennsylvania State Police" until June 29, 1937 when it was renamed "Commissioner of The Pennsylvania Motor Police" following the merger of the state police and highway patrol.
^ abcIt is unknown for how long they served in the acting capacity.
^On May 18, 1923 the Pennsylvania State Highway Patrol was established. It would later by merged with the Pennsylvania State Police.
^On August 25, 1922, Adams bestowed upon the Deputy Superintendent the rank of Major;[19] (This was the initial use of that rank in the Department's history)
^Following the merger of the state police and highway patrol on June 29, 1937, the position of superintendent was combined and renamed "Commissioner of the Pennsylvania Motor Police."
^Following the merger of the two departments, the new commissioner appointed himself "Colonel," and the deputy commissioner as "Lieutenant Colonel."
^ abContinued service under the renamed department.
^On April 28, 1943, Act 52 renamed the department to the Pennsylvania State Police, and as a result the commissioner became known as the "Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police."
^Dunn held no paramilitary rank and did not wear a uniform while serving as Commissioner.
^ abBrown failed to be confirmed by the state senate and after a brief standoff between the senate and the newly-elected governor, Tom Wolf, his nomination was revoked and Wolf instead nominated Tyree Blocker for commissioner. During this time, Brown stayed on as acting commissioner.
^Paris was confirmed as Commissioner by the senate on March 9, 2023. Officially, his term is set to expire on January 19, 2027.
