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Revision as of 16:22, 17 January 2016

Colorado State Patrol
AbbreviationCSP
Agency overview
FormedSeptember 23, 1935; 89 years ago (1935-09-23)
Preceding agency
  • Colorado State Highway Courtesy Patrol
Employees936 (as of 2004)[1]
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionColorado, USA
Colorado State Police Districts
Size104,185 square miles (269,840 km2)
Population4,861,515 (2007 est.)[2]
General nature
Operational structure
HeadquartersLakewood, Colorado
Troopers681 (as of 2004)[1]
Civilians255 (as of 2004)[1]
Agency executive
  • Colonel Scott Hernandez, Chief
Parent agencyColorado Department of Public Safety
Facilities
Districts6
Website
http://csp.state.co.us/
Main article: Law and government of Colorado

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, guards the state capitol and the governor of Colorado and has statewide general law enforcement jurisdiction.

History

Founded in 1935 with only 44 men, it was one of only four law enforcement agencies serving in 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.

Weapons

Until the switch to auto-loading semi-automatic pistols, The CSP carried blue-steel, 4 inch barreled Colt Python revolvers. CSP troopers now carry the Smith & Wesson M&P .40.[3] Additionally, all troopers are issued a Remington 870 shotgun and are given the option to carry either a department or personally owned M-14 or AR-15 select fire rifle.

Less-Lethal Weapons

All Troopers are issued an ASP baton and OC. In 2012 the CSP began training and issuing its troopers tasers. The Colorado State Patrol also issues take home cars to its troopers.

Goals and Mission of the CSP

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 8,483 miles (13,652 km) of state highways and more than 57,000 miles (92,000 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 statewide 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.

Rank Structure

Commissioned Officers

The Colorado State Patrol headquarters is located in a nondescript building in Lakewood, Colorado.
Rank Insignia Description
Colonel
Chief of the Patrol
Lieutenant Colonel
Region Commander
Major
District/Branch Commander
Captain
Troop/Section Commander

Non-Commissioned Officers

Rank Insignia
Sergeant Major
Master Sergeant
Sergeant
Corporal
Master Trooper and
Technician
Trooper

Special programs

Colorado State Patrol car

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. Its emphasis 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

  • Vehicle Crimes Unit
  • Aircraft Section
  • Executive Security Unit
  • Hazardous Materials Section
  • Homeland Security Section
  • Smuggling and Trafficking Interdiction Section
  • Investigative Services Section
  • Motor Carrier Safety Section
  • Motorcycle Unit
  • Evidence Section

Fallen officers

Since the establishment of the Colorado State Patrol, 25 officers have died in the line of duty.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c USDOJ Statistics Archived 2008-11-20 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ 2007 Population Estimates Archived 2008-09-18 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "Smith & Wesson Receives Order from Colorado State Patrol". The Outdoor Wire. 2008-01-29. Retrieved 2012-07-13.
  4. ^ "The Officer Down Memorial Page". Odmp.org. Retrieved 2012-07-13.
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