Pennsylvania Capitol Police

Last updated

Pennsylvania Capitol Police
PA Capitol Police logo.png
Common namePennsylvania Capitol Police
Motto"Courtesy, Professionalism, Dedication"
Agency overview
FormedMarch 26, 1895 [1]
Annual budget$17.5 million (FY 2024) [2]
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionUnited States
Legal jurisdiction Capitol Complex and state office buildings in Dauphin County, PA, and Scranton, Pennsylvania
Specialist jurisdiction
  • Buildings and lands occupied or explicitly controlled by the institution and the institution's personnel, and public entering the buildings and precincts of the institution.
Operational structure
Overseen byPennsylvania Department of General Services
Headquarters70E Capitol East Wing, Harrisburg, PA 17125
Sworn members84 [3]
Agency executive
  • Joseph Jacob, Superintendent
Website
https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dgs/programs-and-services/capitol-police

The Pennsylvania Capitol Police is the law enforcement agency responsible for the Pennsylvania State Capitol Complex located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Capitol Police is led by a Superintendent, and operates under the Pennsylvania Department of General Services. [4] As of November 2024, the Pennsylvania Capitol Police employed 84 sworn law enforcement officers. [3]

Contents

The Pennsylvania Capitol Police are responsible for investigating all crimes reported within the Pennsylvania State Capitol Complex, along with various state-owned buildings and properties. The Pennsylvania Capitol Police enforce the laws of the Commonwealth, protect state government personnel, and monitor demonstrations and protests within their jurisdiction. [5] As of 2024, the Pennsylvania Capitol Police budget was $17,567,000. [2] The budget for the Pennsylvania Capitol Police is allocated from the Pennsylvania Department of General Services.

The Pennsylvania State Capitol Police Force was established on March 26, 1895, under Governor Daniel Hartman Hastings, the state's 21st Governor. [1] The enactment authorized the Capitol Police as the first Pennsylvania police agency under Commonwealth jurisdiction and the second oldest state police organization in the United States, after the Texas Rangers. [6]

Accreditation

The Capitol Police was initially accredited on July 9, 2005 through the Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission (PLEAC) and Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association. In 2024, the Pennsylvania Capitol Police received their sixth re-accreditation. In addition to being re-accredited, the Pennsylvania Capitol Police was awarded the Premier Agency Status by the PA Chiefs of Police.[ citation needed ]

The Capitol Police received International Accreditation on July 28, 2007, through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).[ citation needed ] In 2024, the Capitol Police was awarded their sixth award for being re-accredited. CALEA recognized the Pennsylvania Capitol Police for their professional excellence and demonstrating a commitment to being a highly trained police department.

Equipment

The Capitol Police have an all-Ford patrol fleet that consists of Police Interceptor Sedans and the Police Interceptor Utility. The agency has both marked and unmarked vehicles.[ citation needed ] Some of the vehicles utilized by the Capitol Police are equipped with Vehicle-Mounted LPR (License Plate Reader) Systems.

Though not often displayed in pictures, the Capitol Police also uniquely use the IWI X95 Israeli bullpup assault rifle as part of their armament, and were previously the first law enforcement agency in the United States to adopt the TAVOR SAR in 2013 before upgrading to the IWI Tavor X95 in July 2017. [7]

The Department has four K-9 Explosive Units trained in the detection of explosives. All delivery vehicles entering the building of the Capital Complex are searched. Also, the Capitol Police Department has a K-9 Narcotics/Patrol unit trained in the detection of drugs on as well as for search and rescue operations.

Special Units

K-9 Officers and K-9's from the PA Capitol Police. K-9 Units.jpg
K-9 Officers and K-9's from the PA Capitol Police.

The Pennsylvania Capitol Police conduct both patrol and investigatory work on the grounds of the Pennsylvania State Capitol. Six special units operate within the department. [8]

Rank structure and insignia

TitleInsignia
Superintendent
2 Gold Stars.svg
Two stars
Deputy Superintendent
1 Gold Star.svg
One star
Lieutenant
US-OF1B.svg
One bar
Sergeant
Sgtpin.jpg
Three chevrons
CorporalNo insignia
OfficerNo insignia

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Celebrating 130 Years of Capitol Police's Distinguished Service". www.pa.gov. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  2. 1 2 "2024 Act 1A". The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  3. 1 2 "Pennsylvania Capitol Police Swear In Three New Officers, Launch Statewide Market". www.pa.gov. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Programs and Services". www.pa.gov. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Careers". www.pa.gov. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  6. ↑ "PA Capitol Police".
  7. ↑ "The Pennsylvania State Capitol Police Upgrade to IWI US TAVOR® X95™". July 25, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Join the Capitol Police". www.pa.gov. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
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