Maryland State Police

Last updated
Maryland Department of State Police
Patch of the Maryland State Police.png
Patch of the Maryland State Police
Seal of the Maryland State Police.png
Seal of the Maryland State Police
Badge of a Maryland State Police trooper.png
Badge of a Maryland state trooper
Flag of Maryland.svg
Flag of the State of Maryland
Common nameMaryland State Police
AbbreviationMSP
Agency overview
FormedFebruary 10, 1921;103 years ago (1921-02-10)
Employees2,189 (as of 2014) personnel [1]
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionMaryland, U.S.
MD - State Police Troops.png
Maryland State Police Troops
Size12,407 square miles (32,130 km2)
Population6,045,680 (2019) [2]
General nature
Operational structure
Headquarters1201 Reisterstown Road, Pikesville, Maryland, U.S., 21208
39°22′30″N76°43′23″W / 39.374948°N 76.722973°W / 39.374948; -76.722973
Troopers1,474 (as of 2014) [3]
Civilian members715 (as of 2014) [3]
Agency executive
  • Colonel Roland Butler [4] , Superintendent
Child agency
  • Maryland State Fire Marshal
Facilities
Barracks
23
  • Barrack A
  • Barrack B
  • Barrack C
  • Barrack D
  • Barrack E
  • Barrack F
  • Barrack G
  • Barrack H
  • Barrack I
  • Barrack J
  • Barrack L
  • Barrack M
  • Barrack N
  • Barrack O
  • Barrack P
  • Barrack Q
  • Barrack R
  • Barrack S
  • Barrack T
  • Barrack U
  • Barrack V
  • Barrack W
  • Barrack X
Helicopters10
Airplanes2
Website
mdsp.maryland.gov

The Maryland State Police (MSP), officially the Maryland Department of State Police (MDSP), is the official state police force of the U.S. state of Maryland. The Maryland State Police is headquartered at 1201 Reisterstown Road in the Pikesville CDP in unincorporated Baltimore County. [5] [6]

Contents

Organizational structure

The Maryland State Police is organized into a structure based on the United States military, composed of: [7]

The Maryland State Fire Marshal is a member of the department and is charged with investigation and prosecution of suspicious fires and arson throughout the state.

All sworn members are organized into 1 of 4 bureaus or are assigned to the Office of the Superintendent.

Office of the Superintendent

The Office of the Superintendent includes staff and units that directly support the administrative responsibilities of the Secretary. Those units and staff report to the chief of staff. Some of the main functions of the Office of the Superintendent include:

Strategic Planning Command

The Strategic Planning Command deals with all planning within the department. The command manages the Budget and Finance Division, Government Affairs Unit, Policing Division, Staff Inspections Section, and Planning and Research Division. Within the Planning and Research Division is the Property Unit and the Accreditation Section. The Accreditation Section is responsible for authoring, review and issuance of all departmental directives. In addition, this section manages all aspects of the MSP's CALEA accreditation. The MSP received CALEA's coveted Tri-Arc award Archived 2015-03-16 at the Wayback Machine in November 2014 and is accredited in Law Enforcement, Training Academy, and Communications. [8]

Criminal Intelligence Section

The section collects, analyzes, and coordinates the acquisition and dissemination of criminal intelligence information.

Department Prosecutor Section

The section has overall responsibility for the prosecution of all sworn disciplinary cases.

Executive Protection Section

The Executive Protection Section provides security for executive branch leaders in the State of Maryland, such as the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller, and Treasurer. [9]

Legislative Security Section

The Legislative Security Section is charged with ensuring the safety and security of the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House, and all members of the General Assembly while in session.

Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

The section is responsible for ensuring compliance with the Governor's Code of Fair Practices; state and federal discrimination laws; and administers an equal employment practices program consistent with the requirements of federal and state laws governing equal employment opportunity and the State Personnel and Pensions Article.

Internal Affairs Division

The section ensures thorough and objective investigations of allegations and complaints of misconduct against employees so that a proper defensive or appropriate disciplinary actions is processed.

The legal advisor represents the superintendent on legal issues and handles all matters referred by the superintendent.

Office of Media Communications

The office is responsible for the daily dissemination of information to the media and public, and the facilitation of internal communication from the Office of the Superintendent.

Vehicle Theft Prevention Council

Subtitle 2-702 of the Public Safety Article established the Vehicle Theft Prevention Council and Vehicle Theft Prevention Fund to assist in the prevention and deterrence of vehicle theft and related crimes, including vandalism and theft of property from vehicles.

Field Operations Bureau

The Field Operations Bureau is the most visible part of the Maryland State Police since it includes all troopers who regularly interact with the public. Within the Bureau are two commands: the Northern Command and Southern Command which together encompass the 22 barracks. The Northern Command is divided into the Central, Northern, and Western troops and the Southern Command is divided into the Eastern, Southern, and Washington Metro troops. In addition to the traditional law enforcement services, each Barrack also provides additional services to assist the public. These services include salvage inspections and car seat safety checks.

The Automotive Safety Enforcement Division is responsible, by law, for the State's vehicle safety inspection program and all safety equipment repair orders issued by law enforcement agencies. The Division also supervises more than 1,600 inspection stations throughout the State. The Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division operates weigh and inspection stations. It also focuses efforts on safety inspections of commercial motor vehicles traveling in the State, while also concentrating on the prevention of commercial vehicles being used as weapons of terror. The Special Operations Division includes many specialized units and teams which provide safety and rescue assistance to the citizens of Maryland.

The Field Operations Bureau is currently commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Frank B. Lioi, Chief. [10]

State Police Impaired Driving Reduction Effort

A component of the Field Operations Bureau, SPIDRE was launched in May 2013 and focuses on reducing alcohol related crashes in Maryland by targeting areas across the state with high crash rates involving impaired drivers. The program complements the MSP's extensive efforts to improve highway safety and help Maryland achieve the goal of zero deaths on our roadways. It is funded by the Maryland Department of Transportation's Highway Safety Office. In 2013, 152 people were killed in alcohol related crashes, accounting for 33 percent of all traffic fatalities in 2013. Using data to identify high risk areas, the elite team of seven specially trained Maryland state troopers and their partners continue to make arrests in these concentrated areas to further reduce the number of deaths and injuries caused by impaired driving. Maryland state troopers will continue to collaborate with law enforcement partners in an effort to reduce the number of alcohol related crashes in Maryland. [11]

Criminal Investigation Bureau

The Criminal Investigation Bureau provides the investigative functions for the Department in partnership with allied law enforcement agencies. It consists of the Criminal Investigation Command and the Drug Enforcement Command. The Criminal Investigation Command includes the Criminal Enforcement Division and the Forensic Sciences Division. It will often assist local municipalities that lack extensive crime scene investigation capabilities. [12]

The Criminal Enforcement Division is composed of special investigative groups that work on criminal enforcement, gang and firearms enforcement, computer crimes, missing children, homicides, fugitive apprehension, vehicle theft, insurance fraud and environmental crimes. The Forensic Sciences Division provides forensic laboratory analysis and expert testimony.

The Drug Enforcement Command includes the Drug Enforcement Division. Their responsibility is to lead the Maryland State Police drug control strategy by focusing on the disruption of drug trafficking at every level. Through a variety of investigative techniques, personnel attempt to identify, infiltrate, and dismantle drug organizations operating in Maryland. The bureau underwent a realignment in 2013. Barrack investigators were placed into regional commands scattered geographically throughout the state. Investigators assist allied agencies with both minor and major investigations. A primary focus of the bureau are those crimes having an inter-jurisdictional nexus (crimes which cross local, county, or state borders).

The Criminal Investigation Bureau is currently commanded by Lieutenant Colonel David L. Ruel, Chief. [13]

Support Services Bureau

The Support Services Bureau is divided into three commands: Logistics, Personnel, and Technology and Information Management. It provides materials and services to the Department of State Police and allied law enforcement agencies to enable them to meet their obligations and responsibilities. The Bureau's responsibilities also include managing the Department's information technology and communications systems.

The Aviation Command transports critically injured citizens to trauma centers. The Command also provides aerial support for the Department and allied public safety agencies, conducts search and rescue operations, and aids in criminal investigation and traffic control.

The Support Services Bureau is currently commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Dalaine M. Brady [14]

Aviation Command

Trooper 3 (foreground) practicing hoist operations with Trooper 2 in background climbing out on a medical evacuation MSP Dauphin FDK MD1.jpg
Trooper 3 (foreground) practicing hoist operations with Trooper 2 in background climbing out on a medical evacuation

The agency operates a large Aviation Command focusing on medevac operations. Aviation also supports ground units of the state and local police. Funding comes from a vehicle registration surcharge ($17.00 per vehicle per year as of 2015) [15] collected by the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. [16]

Based out of seven strategically located sections, the Aviation Command operates two types of aircraft. [17] The command operates as a multi-role helicopter unit conducting all scene-based medevac operations in the State of Maryland. Crews on the helicopter consist of two pilots and two Trooper/Flight Paramedics. Inter-facility (hospital to hospital) remain the responsibility of private medevac providers. The only exception is neonatal transports which are still handled by the State Police through an agreement with the Maryland Neonatal Transport Team.

Call SignSection NameBase LocationStatus
Trooper 1Baltimore Martin State Airport Operational.
Trooper 2Washington Joint Base Andrews Operational.
Trooper 3Frederick Frederick Municipal Airport Operational as of August 1973; originally located at the Frederick Barracks; relocated to current location shortly thereafter; Trooper 3 has completed more hoist missions than all other sections combined.
Trooper 4Salisbury Salisbury Regional Airport operational as of summer 1977 (weekends only); originally located at the Berlin Barracks; relocated to current location in summer 1978; full time operation began January 1979; operated JetRanger originally; transitioned to UH-1B in 1979; transitioned back to JetRanger in 1980; transitioned to the Dauphin in 1989.
Trooper 5Cumberland Cumberland Regional Airport Operational.
Trooper 6Easton Easton Airport Operational.
Trooper 7Southern Maryland St. Mary's County Regional Airport Operational as of July 1987; originally located at Hangar 101 of Pax River NAS in Lexington Park operating Bell 206B; relocated to current location in 1992; transitioned to the Dauphin in 1994 and the AW-139 in 2014.
Trooper 8NorwoodNorwood HeliportDecommissioned.

In addition to medevacs, the Aviation Command provides advanced search-and-rescue services and airborne hoisting in emergency situations through the deployment of highly trained crews. The command routinely assists allied law enforcement agencies by providing a robust airborne law enforcement platform through the use of advanced camera and searchlight capabilities.

On October 20, 2010, Maryland State Police awarded a $71 million contract to AgustaWestland to provide six AW139 helicopters. [18] In 2013, the contract totaled 10 AW139s at a price of $121.7 million. [19]

As of December 31, 2014, all seven of the Aviation Command's sections were operational using the new AW139 aircraft. All 11 of the Eurocopter Dauphins were subsequently retired and sold at auction.

Current Fleet (As of May 10, 2020):

AircraftTypeNumberIntroducedNotes
AgustaWestland AW139 Rotary Wing10Feb. 2013Option for 2 additional aircraft not exercised; option expired June 2016
Piper PA-32-301 Saratoga Fixed Wing1July 3, 2017N9111G, Ser. No. 3206003, Mfg. 1986; replaced Cessna P210N Pressurized Centurion; not painted in MSP colors

AW139 Fleet Data:

N-NumberSerial NumberCertificate Issue Date
N381MD4127603/14/2013
N382MD4128703/14/2013
N383MD4128903/14/2013
N384MD4129003/14/2013
N385MD4129103/14/2013
N386MD4129203/14/2013
N387MD4132706/13/2013
N388MD4133609/13/2013
N389MD4133812/19/2013
N390MD4137708/15/2014

Retired Fleet:

AircraftTypeNumberIntroducedRetiredNotes
Aerospatiale SA365N-1 Rotary Wing1219882013-2019Hull loss crash on 9/27/2008 N92MD Trooper 2, Ser. No. 6311, with 4 souls lost (CFIT); fleet replaced by AW139s following crash of Trooper 2
Bell 206 JetRanger Rotary WingUnknown1960s1988-1994VFR only; First Medevac flight on 3/19/1970; Hull loss crash on 1/19/1986 with 2 souls lost operating as Trooper 3 (VFR flight into IMC conditions); Hull loss crash on 9/18/1973 with 2 souls lost (emergency landing following engine failure); Hull loss crash on 10/28/1972 with 2 souls lost (VFR flight into IMC conditions); fleet replaced by Dauphins following crash of Trooper 3; officially retired November 3, 1994
UH-1B "Huey" Rotary WingUnknownUnknownUnknownformer military aircraft; aircraft shown in photos do not appear to have a civil registration number
Hiller UH-12E Rotary Wing1Oct. 19601960s
Cessna P210N Pressurized Centurion Fixed Wing1UnknownUnknownRetired sometime after May 2016; replaced by Piper PA-32-301 Saratoga
Beechcraft B300 King Air 350 Fixed Wing1UnknownUnknownRetired sometime after May 2016

Dauphin Fleet Data:

N-NumberSerial NumberModelEntry Date or Year of MfgRetirement Date
N57MD6252Aerospatiale SA365N-1 Dauphin198805/30/2018
N92MD6311Aerospatiale SA365N-1 Dauphin05/07/1989Lost 9/27/2008 with 4 souls
N93MD6316Aerospatiale SA365N-1 Dauphin198905/04/2018
N94MD6317Eurocopter AS365N3198903/02/2016
N95MD6320Eurocopter AS365N3198905/04/2018
N96MD6321Eurocopter AS365N311/28/198903/07/2019
N97MD6330Eurocopter AS365N3unknown03/25/2018
N38MD6335Eurocopter AS365N3198903/22/2016
N79MD6352Eurocopter AS365N309/25/199007/21/2016
N61MD6462Eurocopter AS365N2 Dauphin199303/09/2016
N65MD6464Eurocopter AS365N2 Dauphinunknown03/26/2018
N82MD6550Eurocopter AS365N3199802/11/2016

JetRanger Fleet Data (Incomplete Fleet Information):

N-NumberSerial NumberModelCertificate Issue DateRetirement Date
N6294N154206A10/06/197111/28/1973
N4069G232206A08/01/196806/22/1973
N2282W453206A01/26/197005/29/1973
N594771088206B02/27/1980(?)04/09/1980(?)
N831081217206B08/10/1977Unknown
N594741434206BUnknownUnknown
N5757M3668206B1980s08/24/1995
N3189T3814206BUnknownUnknown
N45662Unknown206AUnknownUnknown
N16717Unknown206AUnknownUnknown
N49662Unknown206AUnknownUnknown
N8899261-0718UH-1BMfg 1961Unknown

The Aviation Command was instrumental in the support of the first trauma center in the USA, the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. [20]

History

Until 1921, Maryland had no state-wide police force. In that year, in response to increasing crime, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles organized a team of police officers who were given statewide jurisdiction to enforce traffic and criminal laws. They gained jurisdiction through deputization by county sheriffs. An associated plainclothes investigative unit became known as the "State Police Force." [21]

In 1935, the Maryland State Police was established as a separate unit of state government, funded out of revenues from the Department of Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. It was granted additional statewide police powers to enforce fish, oyster, game and other conservation laws and maintain a training school. It was made part of the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services in 1970. [21]

In 1994, the Department of Maryland State Police was formed as a separate executive department; it was renamed the Department of State Police in 1995. [21] Recent superintendents have included David B. Mitchell from 1995 to 2003, Ed Norris from 2003 to 2004, Thomas E. Hutchins from 2004 to 2007, Terrence Sheridan from 2007 to 2011 and Marcus L. Brown from 2011 to 2015.

Colonel William M. Pallozzi was appointed as the acting superintendent on February 17, 2015. Colonel Pallozzi was overwhelmingly confirmed by the Maryland Legislature and on March 26, 2015, was officially sworn in as Maryland State Police Superintendent. Colonel Pallozzi began his career as a patrol trooper with the Maryland State Police in 1989. Since that time, he has held various supervisory and leadership positions, including commander of the Executive Protection Division; chief of staff in the Office of the Superintendent; chief of the Criminal Investigation Bureau; and chief of the Support Services Bureau. In his last role, he oversaw multiple, complex projects and programs impacting every aspect of the Maryland State Police. [22]

In the history of the force, forty-three state troopers have been killed in the line of duty. [23]

Jurisdiction

The Maryland State Police has jurisdiction throughout Maryland and may, in its discretion or at the request of any municipal agency, or when ordered by the Governor of Maryland, exercise and enforce statewide laws without regard to jurisdiction within the boundaries of the State of Maryland. Otherwise, except under certain conditions as defined by statute, the agency does not enforce criminal laws within the jurisdiction of those incorporated municipalities which have their own police force. [24]

The department also has the authority and jurisdiction to investigate allegations of police corruption concerning any municipal agency within the state. The department also enforces controlled substance laws throughout the state.

Uniform and equipment

The police uniform has remained the same since 1951. [25] The standard uniform consists of olive pants with a black stripe down the side, a tan colored button-up shirt is worn, with long sleeves in winter and short sleeves in summer. A black tie is worn with the long-sleeve shirt. Some also wear black sweaters in cold weather. Class A uniforms consist of a dress blouse and Sam Browne belt. The ranks of trooper first class, corporal, sergeant, and first sergeant wear yellow chevrons showing their rank on both sleeves. Members of certain specialized units wear a military camouflage work uniform.

A felt Stetson hat is worn in the winter months with a long sleeve shirt and tie, and a straw Stetson is worn in the summer months with the short sleeve shirt.

Maryland State Police troopers are issued the Glock 22 chambered in 40 S&W, replacing the Beretta Px4 Storm and a Remington 870 shotgun. Qualified troopers are also issued the Colt M16-A1 or the Colt AR-15 semi-automatic rifles. [7]

Vehicles

Troopers patrol in marked or unmarked vehicles. Early marked patrol units were olive green with black fenders. Beginning in 1972, vehicles (including helicopters) were painted yellow. Beginning in about 1984 new vehicles were painted tan with black and olive side stripes from front to rear. In approximately 1996, the agency changed back to the historic colors, and painted vehicles with most horizontal surfaces olive green and most vertical surfaces black.[ citation needed ]

MSP currently operates a fleet consisting of the Ford Police Interceptor Utility, Ford Police Interceptor Sedan, Chevrolet Caprice 9C1, and Chevrolet Tahoe PPV, with the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor being phased out of service. Most newer vehicles are painted in the traditional green over black paint schemes, however, some are painted all black with traditional MSP lettering. All marked patrol vehicles contain the Maryland State Police Shield on both the driver and passenger door as well as "State Trooper" decals on the fenders and rear of the vehicle. Trooper's vehicles are not equipped with prisoner cages. Prisoners, by policy, are transported in the front seat.

Most vehicles assigned to patrol functions are equipped with mounted radar units, in-car mobile data terminals, printers, and barcode scanners that allow troopers to access various law enforcement databases as well as provide the hardware support for the MSP's Etix electronic citation program. This setup enables troopers to spend more time on patrol as they are able to complete reports through an internet-based computer-aided dispatch / report management system.

Training

The Maryland State Police Training Academy is in Sykesville, Maryland, along with the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission. [26] The academy is live-in and consists of twenty-six weeks of basic instruction.

Candidates take college-level academic classes for which they receive 45 college credits. Training includes instruction in the use of the agency's firearms as well as in criminal law, motor vehicle law and emergency vehicle operation. Vehicle training is conducted on the training commission's course.[ citation needed ]

Upon completion of training, troopers are assigned to one of twenty-three barracks located around Maryland. There troopers will complete an additional eight weeks of field training under the supervision of a Field Training Trooper (FTT).[ citation needed ]

Barracks

Barrack IDLocationArea served
Barrack A [27] Waterloo [27] Howard County [27]
Barrack B [27] Frederick [27] Frederick County [27]
Barrack C [27] Cumberland [27] Allegany County [27]
Barrack D [27] Bel Air [27] Harford County [27]
Barrack E [27] Salisbury [27] Wicomico County [27]
Barrack F [27] North East [27] Cecil County [27]
Barrack G [27] Westminster [27] Carroll County [27]
Barrack H [27] La Plata [27] Charles County [27]
Barrack I [27] Easton [27] Caroline County, Dorchester County, Talbot County [27]
Barrack J [27] Annapolis [27] Anne Arundel County [27]
Barrack L [27] Forestville [27] Prince George's County (south of U.S. 50) [27]
Barrack M [27] JFK Memorial HighwayInterstate 95 in Cecil County, Harford County, Baltimore County [27]
Barrack N [27] Rockville [27] Montgomery County [27]
Barrack O [27] Hagerstown [27] Washington County [27]
Barrack P [27] Glen Burnie [27] Anne Arundel County [27]
Barrack Q [27] College Park [27] Prince George's County (north of and including U.S. 50) [27]
Barrack R [27] Golden Ring [27] Baltimore County [27]
Barrack S [27] Centreville [27] Kent County, Queen Anne's County [27]
Barrack T [27] Leonardtown [27] St. Mary's County [27]
Barrack U [27] Prince Frederick [27] Calvert County [27]
Barrack V [27] Berlin [27] Worcester County [27]
Barrack W [27] McHenry [27] Garrett County [27]
Barrack X [27] Princess Anne [27] Somerset County [27]

Rank structure

The Maryland State Police is a paramilitary organization with a rank structure modeled after the United States military. The ranks of corporal through captain are based on promotional testing; majors and above are appointed by the superintendent. [28]

The Maryland State Police rank structure is as listed:

RankInsigniaDescription
Colonel/Superintendent
US-O6 insignia.svg
The Superintendent of the Maryland State Police holds the rank of colonel. He is the Secretary of the Department of State Police and a member of the governor's cabinet.
Lieutenant Colonel
US-O5 insignia.svg
There are three officers with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, each overseeing one of the three bureaus within the state police.
Major
US-O4 insignia.svg
Majors are responsible for a command within the state police.
Captain
US-O3 insignia.svg
The specific responsibilities of a captain vary depending upon where they are assigned within the agency. For example, a captain may be a troop commander in the Field Operations Bureau or a division commander in one of the other bureaus.
Lieutenant
US-O2 insignia.svg
A lieutenant is the commander of each barrack. Other Lieutenants may command a unit.
First Sergeant
MD - State Police 1st Sergeant.png
First sergeants are assistant barrack commanders or may perform administrative functions in other areas.
Detective Sergeant
MD - State Police Detective Sergeant.png
Detective sergeants are in charge of all criminal investigations at a barracks, or may be assigned to other investigative functions.
Sergeant
MD - State Police Sergeant.png
Sergeants act as shift commanders or duty officers.
Corporal
MD - State Police Corporal.png
Corporals are the first-line supervisors and are usually assigned as road supervisors within barracks. In the absence of a sergeant, they may act as the duty officer.
Master Trooper [29]
MD - State Police Master Trooper.png
Troopers who complete 15 years of satisfactory or exceptional service are promoted to the rank of Master Trooper.
Senior Trooper
MD - State Police Senior Trooper.png
Troopers who complete 10 years of satisfactory or exceptional service are promoted to the rank of Senior Trooper.
Trooper First Class
MD - State Police Trooper 1st Class.png
Troopers who complete three years of satisfactory or exceptional service are promoted to the rank of TFC.
Trooper Candidates successfully completing the academy and field training are appointed as troopers.

Demographics

Specialized units

Trooper 2 crash

On September 28, 2008, around 12:00am, Trooper 2 (Eurocopter AS 365N1 Dauphin, N92MD) crashed with five people aboard in Walker Mill Regional Park in Prince George's County. [31] Out of the five aboard, there were four confirmed fatalities, which included pilot Stephen H. Bunker (retired corporal), paramedic Trooper First Class Mickey C. Lippy, Emergency Medical Technician Tonya Mallard (Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department), and one of the two patients on board. This resulted in the grounding of all aircraft, until the cause was determined, with allied agencies covering the state. Aircraft were inspected and brought up to cover missions two weeks after the crash with no resulting incidents[ citation needed ].

This is the fourth fatal crash in the history of the Aviation Division. The most recent fatal crash prior to this occurred on January 19, 1986[ citation needed ].

Controversies

Former superintendents (secretaries) of state police

Col. Edward T. Norris (Secretary of State Police 2003) [32] pled guilty to federal corruption and tax charges. Federal prosecutors said he used the money, in part, to pay for extramarital encounters with six women. He served 6 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised probation and was ordered to perform 500 hours of community service. [33]

Col. Marcus L. Brown (Secretary of State Police 2011-2015) [34] after leaving the Maryland State Police, was appointed acting head of the Pennsylvania State Police by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf. Brown became the subject of a Hampden Township, PA Police misdemeanor theft investigation after Brown was caught on video attempting to remove opponents' political signs. Many Republican senators expressed concern, "the incident calls into question Brown's judgment and ability to handle controversy and difficult situations within the bounds of the law." [35]

Brown apologized, admitting, he "made a mistake in judgment", adding his actions didn't reflect well on himself or the state police. [35] Brown lost his appointment for commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police confirmation vote, mostly along party lines, and subsequently withdrew his name from consideration. [36] Gov. Tom Wolf recalled Brown's nomination June 8, 2015, and later appointed him to another position that didn't require confirmation. [37]

Racial profiling

In 1998 several individual plaintiffs, were joined by the NAACP, and the ACLU in filing a federal lawsuit alleging Maryland State Troopers were continuing to engage in racial profiling and discrimination. [38] In 2003, the Maryland State Police entered into a Consent Decree with the US Department of Justice to resolve major portions of the case. [39] The consent decree required, among other things; implementation of a policy against racial profiling, audio visual recording of traffic stops and searches, a 24 hour toll free hotline to receive discrimination complaints, and increased training.

In 2008 the State Police finally settled what had become known as the "driving while black" case, by agreeing to pay $300,000 in damages and legal costs, and up to $100,000 to retain an independent consultant to implement policy and practices changes.

Domestic Spying

In 2008, it was revealed through Freedom of Information Act requests that the Maryland State Police had been engaged in domestic spying of anti-war, anti-death penalty and environmental activists, and classified 53 of them as "terrorists," although none of them committed a violent crime. [40] The police admitted that there was never any evidence linking these individuals with any intention to commit any acts of violence. Among those listed as terrorists were two Roman Catholic nuns living in Baltimore. [41]

Search tactics questioned

On the morning of March 11, 2014, officers from the Montgomery County Police Department, Maryland State Police, Rockville City Police, and Prince George's County Police acting on a tip set up a roadblock on across all 12-lanes on Interstate 270 and walked car to car with pistols, shotguns and semiautomatic rifles searching for three armed bank robbery suspects. The incident brought hundreds of cars and thousands of motorists on the interstate to a standstill for 45-minutes as dozens of police officers conducted vehicle-to-vehicle searches. [42] The search tactics came into question, with reports of officers walking down I-270 between stopped cars with guns drawn, telling people to get back in their vehicles, and open their trunks. One woman was reportedly shouted at by police with weapons drawn after she'd opened her car door to throw up, having gotten carsick from sitting in traffic. MCPD Chief Manger defended the incident. [43] Don Troop, a motorist in the traffic, told the Washington Post that a group of officers made its way to his car and other cars around him. "They were just walking along saying: "Pop the trunk! Pop the trunk!" Troop said he overheard a man in a truck next to him call out to another motorist: "The police are looking for bank robbers." A short time later, about nine officers approached his car — including state police in tan uniforms, county police in dark uniforms and at least one plainclothes officer wearing a yellow tie. Among their commands to motorists that Troop heard: "Stay in your car." "Pop the trunk." "Get your hands on the steering wheel. Get you hands up where we can see them." Cpl. Aaron Smith, a pilot flying a Prince George's County helicopter dispatched to assist stated "We saw that they were searching traffic and going vehicle to vehicle." [44] Montgomery County Police spokesman Captain Paul Starks described the incident as a "systematic check of trunks and rear hitches" of detained vehicles. [45] Three suspects were identified in the traffic and taken into custody without incident. One handgun and bank currency were recovered. No legal action was filed against any police department due to the incident.

See also

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The Alaska State Troopers, officially the Division of Alaska State Troopers (AST), is the state police agency of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is a division of the Alaska Department of Public Safety (DPS). The AST is a full-service law enforcement agency that handles both traffic and criminal law enforcement. The AST is also involved in apprehending fugitives as part of the Alaska Fugitive Task Force, an inter-agency collaborative of Alaska police departments that cooperates with police agencies throughout the United States and less commonly with Interpol in apprehending wanted men and women. Unlike many lower 48 states, the AST also serves as Alaska’s primary environmental law enforcement agency; troopers assigned to the AST’s Division of Alaska Wildlife Troopers are known as "Alaska Wildlife Troopers" and primarily serve as game wardens, although they retain the same powers as other Alaskan state troopers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michigan State Police</span> The state police agency for the state of Michigan

The Michigan State Police (MSP) is the state police agency for the U.S. state of Michigan. The MSP is a full-service law enforcement agency, with its sworn members having full police powers statewide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Delaware State Police</span> Police force of Delaware, U.S.

The Delaware State Police (DSP) is a division of the Delaware Department of Public Safety and Homeland Security and is responsible for traffic regulation and law enforcement across the US State of Delaware, especially in areas underserved by local police departments. The DSP is headquartered in the capital Dover, Delaware.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wisconsin State Patrol</span> State Police Force for the State of Wisconsin

The Wisconsin State Patrol is the state patrol for the state of Wisconsin and is a division of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. The Wisconsin State Patrol enforces traffic and criminal laws, oversees the motor carrier safety and weight facilities (SWEFs), inspects and regulates motor carriers, school buses and ambulances, and assists local law enforcement agencies with traffic safety, civil disturbances and disasters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florida Highway Patrol</span> Law enforcement agency in Florida, United States

The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) is a division of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. It is Florida's highway patrol and is the primary law enforcement agency charged with investigating traffic crashes and criminal laws on the state's highways.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Illinois State Police</span> State police force of Illinois, US

The Illinois State Police (ISP) is the state police agency of the state of Illinois. The Illinois State Police is responsible for traffic safety on more than 300,000 miles of total roadway, including 2,185 miles of Interstate Highways and 15,969 miles of State Highways. Currently, almost 3,000 sworn and civilian personnel make up the Illinois State Police.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virginia State Police</span> State police force for Virginia, US

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, under the leadership of Secretary Brian Moran until his resignation in January 2022. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oklahoma Highway Patrol</span> Law enforcement agency

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) is a major state law enforcement agency of the government of Oklahoma. A division of the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, the OHP has traffic enforcement jurisdiction throughout the state. OHP was legislatively created on July 1, 1937, due to the growing problem of motor vehicle collisions, the expansion of highway systems, and the increase in criminal activities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arizona Department of Public Safety</span> Arizona state police agency

The Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) or Arizona Highway Patrol (AHP) is a state-level law enforcement agency with a primary function of patrolling and enforcing state laws on Arizona highways. Their headquarters are in Phoenix.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minnesota State Patrol</span>

The Minnesota State Patrol is the primary state patrol agency for Minnesota and serves as the de facto state police for the state. While Minnesota State Patrol troopers have full powers of arrest throughout the state, their primary function is traffic safety and vehicle law enforcement. The State Patrol is a division of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indiana State Police</span> Statewide law enforcement agency for the U.S. state of Indiana

The Indiana State Police is the statewide law enforcement agency for the U.S. state of Indiana. Indiana was the 12th state to offer protection to its citizens with a state police force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maine State Police</span> State police agency

The Maine State Police (MSP) is the state police agency for Maine, which has jurisdiction across the state and was created in 1921.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Carolina State Highway Patrol</span> Highway patrol agency for North Carolina, US

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol (NCSHP) is the highway patrol agency for North Carolina which has no per-se "state police" agency. The Patrol has jurisdiction anywhere in the state except for federal or military installations and on the Cherokee Indian Reservation or on Cherokee outlying lands in the western mountains. NCSHP personnel at times conduct formations, inspections, honor guard activities. The primary mission of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol is to ensure safe and efficient transportation on the streets and highways, reduce crime, protect against terrorism, enforce motor vehicle laws, and respond to natural and man-made disasters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ohio State Highway Patrol</span>

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is a division of the Ohio Department of Public Safety and has the primary responsibility of traffic enforcement in the U.S. state of Ohio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maryland Natural Resources Police</span> Law enforcement arm of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

The Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) is the law enforcement arm of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), tasked with enforcing laws on the state's public lands and waterways, protecting fish and wildlife, and leading search and rescue efforts. The Natural Resources Police is also the state's maritime homeland security agency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frederick County Sheriff's Office</span>

The Frederick County Sheriff's Office (FCSO) is the primary law enforcement agency serving a population of 222,938 residents within the 662.88 square miles (1,717 km2) area of Frederick County, Maryland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">State police (United States)</span> Police department of a U.S. state

In the United States, the state police is a police body unique to each U.S. state, having statewide authority to conduct law enforcement activities and criminal investigations. In general, state police officers or highway patrol officers, known as state troopers, perform functions that do not fall within the jurisdiction of a county’s sheriff, such as enforcing traffic laws on state highways and interstates, overseeing security of state capitol complexes, protecting governors, training new officers for local police forces too small to operate an academy and providing technological and scientific services. They also support local police and help to coordinate multi-jurisdictional task force activity in serious or complicated cases in states that grant full police powers statewide.

References

  1. ↑ "USDOJ Census of State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies, 2008" (PDF). Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  2. ↑ "2010 Census Interactive Population Search". Archived from the original on 2012-06-14. Retrieved 2011-12-06.
  3. 1 2 "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-12-14. Retrieved 2011-12-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ↑ "New Maryland State Police superintendent makes history". 11 April 2023.
  5. ↑ Home page. Maryland State Police. Retrieved on March 23, 2009.
  6. ↑ "Pikesville CDP, Maryland [ permanent dead link ]." U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved on March 23, 2009.
  7. 1 2 "Organization". mdsp.maryland.gov. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  8. ↑ Galbraith, Nicole (24 November 2014). "MD State Police Receive Tri-Arc National Accreditation". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  9. ↑ "Executive Protection Section". mdsp.maryland.gov. Retrieved 2018-04-13.
  10. ↑ "FieldOperationsBureau". mdsp.maryland.gov. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  11. ↑ "SPIDRE". mdsp.maryland.gov. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  12. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lzh3OLqDPQo&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=MarylandStatePolice
  13. ↑ "CriminalInvestigationBureau". mdsp.maryland.gov. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  14. ↑ "SupportServicesBureau". mdsp.maryland.gov. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  15. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-03-19. Retrieved 2015-03-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. ↑ "Maryland State Police Aviation Command". mdsp.maryland.gov. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  17. ↑ US civil aircraft register Archived 2010-11-05 at the Wayback Machine searches using "Maryland State Police" and "Maryland Department of State Police" as the Owner Name search parameters. Searches conducted 2020-05-11.
  18. ↑ "Home - Leonardo - Aerospace, Defence and Security". www.agustawestland.com. Archived from the original on 24 October 2010. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  19. ↑ "First of 10 new state medevac helicopters arrive Maryland State Police replacing its fleet under $121.7 million contract". The Baltimore Sun. 26 February 2013.
  20. ↑ "History of the Shock Trauma Center". www.umms.org. Archived from the original on December 24, 2005.
  21. 1 2 3 "HistoryofMarylandLawEnforcement". mdsp.maryland.gov. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  22. ↑ "Governor Larry Hogan - Official Website for the Governor of Maryland". governor.maryland.gov. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  23. ↑ "Maryland State Police, MD". The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP). Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  24. ↑ See Md. Pub. Safety Code Ann. § 2-412 [ permanent dead link ].
  25. ↑ "MarylandStatePoliceUniforms". mdsp.maryland.gov. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  26. ↑ "Maryland State Police Academy Training". mdsp.maryland.gov. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  27. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 "Maryland State Police - Barracks". Archived from the original on 4 May 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  28. ↑ "Maryland State Police - Rank Structure". Archived from the original on 4 May 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  29. ↑ Herald Mail Media 5 promoted to master trooper at Hagerstown state police barrack
  30. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics, 2000: Data for Individual State and Local Agencies with 100 or More Officers Archived 2006-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
  31. ↑ "Four Fatalities in State Police Medevac crash in Prince George's County". Archived from the original on June 13, 2010.
  32. ↑ "Edward T. Norris, Maryland Secretary of State Police". msa.maryland.gov. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  33. ↑ Gail Gibson; Del Quentin Wilber (9 March 2004). "Norris enters plea of guilty to corruption". The Baltimore Sun.
  34. ↑ "Marcus L. Brown, Maryland Secretary of State Police". msa.maryland.gov. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  35. 1 2 "Top cop in Pa. caught taking down signs critical of him". CBS News . Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  36. ↑ Cruz, Luis (15 June 2015). "Marcus Brown withdraws nomination for State Police commissioner" . Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  37. ↑ "Governor Wolf Submits Recall of Marcus Brown's Nomination". 8 June 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  38. ↑ "Landmark Settlement Reached With Maryland State Police In "Driving While Black" Case" . Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  39. ↑ "Wilkins et al v Maryland State Police" (PDF). Retrieved 2018-08-06.
  40. ↑ Lisa Rein (12 October 2008). "Spying on Activists Discussed at Forum; Group Questions Why Some, Not Others". The Washington Post. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  41. ↑ "US nuns come home to discover 'terrorist' status". Agence France-Presse (AFP). 11 October 2008. Archived from the original on 21 May 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  42. ↑ "Police Close I270 in search for bank robbers". The Washington Post. The Washington Post Company, Inc. March 11, 2014. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  43. ↑ "After I-270 Closure A Question Over Tactics". WTOP 103.5 FM. WTOP News. March 12, 2014. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  44. ↑ Morse, Dan (March 11, 2014). "Police Halt Montgomery County Commuters on I-270 to hunt for bank robbery suspects". The Washington Post. The Washington Post Company, Inc. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  45. ↑ "Police Close I-270 during search". MyFoxDC. March 11, 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-03-14. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
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