The Virginia State Police, officially the Virginia Department of State Police, conceived in 1919 and established in 1932, is the state police force for the U.S. state of Virginia. The agency originated out of the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles as an inspector and enforcer of highway laws. It is currently one of fourteen agencies within the Cabinet Secretariat of Public Safety. On January 18, 2018, Gary T. Settle was sworn in as Superintendent of the Virginia State Police. Colonel Settle replaced retiring Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, who had served since 2003.
In 1919, the Virginia State Police was conceived with the passing of the Automobile acts which stated that the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles and his assistants were vested with the powers of a Sheriff for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of the law. The Secretary of the Commonwealth continued to be responsible for this regulation. The burden of enforcement remained with Sheriffs and Constables in counties and police officers in the cities and towns.
In 1919, the Motor Vehicle Act was passed, creating the first title laws for Virginia motor vehicle owners.
In 1932, inspectors became empowered to enforce criminal codes, as well as motor vehicle codes. In doing so legislators created a state enforcement group with the power to arrest anywhere in Virginia. A mobile enforcement agency was now ready for duty wherever civil strife or emergency conditions might exist that would warrant police personnel to ensure peace and security. It was at this time that inspectors began to be known as "Troopers."
On November 3, 1938, an executive order from Majors Bishop and Nicholas officially adopted the title of "State Trooper." The purpose of this was to identify specific members of the Division of Motor Vehicles performing the role of inspector and motorcycle deputy.
On March 14, 1942, the General Assembly abolished the existing Division of Motor Vehicles and created two separate agencies: The Division of Motor Vehicles and the Department of State Police. The act called for a position of superintendent for the State Police and a commissioner for the Division of Motor Vehicles. Major C. W. Woodson Jr. was officially appointed as superintendent for the State Police.
Trooper Training
Training for Troopers is divided into 2 phases;
Phase 1: Academy Training (approximately 29 weeks, with 1,536 hours of instruction covering more than 100 courses)
Phase 2: Field Training (approximately 6 to 8 weeks)
Organizational structure
The Department of State Police consists of the Superintendent's Office and four bureaus; Administrative and Support Services, Criminal Investigations, Field Operations and Strategic Governance.[4]
The Superintendent's Office oversees;
– Public Relations Office
– Executive Protection Division
The four bureaus are:
Bureau of Administrative and Support Services (BASS)
BFO Divisions are further organized into "Area offices", numbered 1 through 49.
– Safety Division (comprising the Virginia Motor Vehicle Safety Inspection Program and the Motor Carrier Safety Unit (MCSU))
– Special Operations Division
Bureau of Strategic Governance (BSG)
– Chief Diversity Officer
– Professional Standards Division
– Records Request (FOIA)
Department of State Police (commanded by the Colonel)
Bureaus (commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel)
Divisions (commanded by a Captain)
Areas (commanded by a First Sergeant)
Uniform and equipment
State Troopers in 2019
The standard Trooper uniform consists of a light gray colored button-up shirt, with long sleeves in winter and short sleeves in summer. A black tie is worn with the long-sleeve shirt. Patches are sewn to each sleeve. Gray pants with a Dark Blue stripe down the sides are worn year round. Black Clarino shoes and Sam Browne belt, without cross strap, gun belt are worn with the uniform.
A black semi-gloss straw Campaign hat is worn year round. A modified winter fur cap can be worn in the colder months.
A dark blue dress blouse and standard black Clarino Sam Browne gun belt, without the cross strap, are worn for special occasions. Dark blue work jackets are utilized for colder months. Black Commando Sweaters, or "wooly pullys" with proper patches and rank can also be worn by Troopers in cold weather.
Sergeants and First Sergeants wear silver, out lined in blue, chevrons showing their rank on both sleeves. Lieutenants and above wear their rank insignia on the shirt collar.
First Sergeants and below wear silver, out lined in blue, hash marks on the left sleeve denoting years of service. Each hash mark represents five years of service.
Issued Weapons
Beginning in late 2018, Troopers of all ranks and Special Agents are issued the SIG Sauer P320.357 SIG pistol, while Troopers ranked First Sergeant and below are also issued the Benelli Supernova 12-gauge, pump-action shotgun and the Colt M4 Carbine patrol rifle. Less-than-lethal weapons carried by troopers include OC spray and the ASP baton.
The department has used many different makes and models since its inception.
Patrol Cars
Prior to 1928, inspectors only used automobiles once they had seized a vehicle used to transport illegal whiskey and it had been released to the Division for enforcement purposes by the courts. Fords became the first issued patrol vehicles in 1928. In 1932, white Chevrolet roadsters and white motorcycles were purchased and became known as the "Great White Fleet". Fords and Chevys were the main staple of the patrol force in the 1930s and early 1940s. In 1945 post-war acquisitions of police vehicles were rare and troopers made arrangements to purchase vehicles wherever they could. Buicks and Pontiacs supplemented the fleet until auto manufacturers resumed normal production.
In 1948, the Department adopted the distinctive blue and gray paint scheme for all vehicles. Later in 1952, reflective markings were adopted and used for all marked vehicles. Those same markings are still in use today.
During the 1940s, 50's, 60's, 70's, and 80's the Department purchased Fords, Chevy's, Chryslers, and Plymouths for use as patrol cars. Ford's and Chevy's were used mainly used in the 90's and 2000's. Dodge Chargers were introduced into the fleet in 2006.
Red emergency lights were in use until 1985 and then were replaced with blue emergency lights. Bar lights were phased onto vehicles in 1988 replacing the single "bubble gum" light. "TROOPER" decals were added to the front fenders of patrol cars in 1995. In 1999, the Department adopted Ford's silver, replacing the traditional paint scheme's gray. Only the hood, roof and trunk were painted blue. This was due to budget constraints and that Ford stop using that particular gray paint. "Slicktop" Chevrolet Impalas were put into use beginning in 2001. Seven "slicktop" 2002 Chevrolet 9C1 Camaros were put into service in high traffic areas in 2002.
In 2006, the Department purchased 30+ Hemi V8 Dodge Chargers and for the first time since 1948 adopted new graphics for the marked and slicktop Chargers.
In 2008, the Virginia State Police's Dodge Charger was Law and Order Magazine's Police Vehicle Design Winner for State and Federal Agencies.
In 2013, the Ford Police Interceptor Sedan was added to the fleet of Virginia State Police vehicles since the Ford Crown Victoria model ceased production. In 2019, the Virginia State Police bought every available new Police Interceptor sedan, giving the state a steady supply of new Interceptor sedans for up to 5 years beyond the model's discontinuation depending on vehicle attrition due to accidents or other damage.
In 2019, the department added Ford Police Interceptor Utility SUV for specialty units (K-9, TacTeam and Motor Carrier units).
Starting in 2020, the department took delivery of their new patrol vehicles, the 2020 Ford Police Interceptor Utility. Dressed in all silver and adopting newer styled graphics, first used on the 2006 Dodge Chargers. Ending a long tradition of their blue and gray paint scheme, in use since 1948 and traditional graphics, in use since 1952. These new patrol vehicles ended another long tradition; the adoption of red emergency lights in combination with blue and the use of internal light bars instead of roof mounted lights.[5]
As of 2021, the Virginia State Police fleet consists primarily of 2013–2019 Ford Police Interceptor Sedans and 2020 and 2021 Ford Police Interceptor Utilities. These vehicles are supplemented by 2013–2022 Chevrolet Tahoe PPVs primarily used for specialty units and 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty XLs as utility vehicles; as well as the remaining Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptors and unmarked Chevrolet Impala PPVs.
Two Virginia State Troopers in Fairfax County, Virginia with a Chevrolet Impala PPV (left) and Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor (right)
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