Abbreviation AHP Annual budget $4.9 Million | Formed 1929 | |
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Common name Arkansas Highway Police Legal personality Governmental: Government agency Operations jurisdiction* State of Arkansas, United States | ||
Founded in 1929, the Arkansas Highway Police is the oldest state law enforcement agency in the state of Arkansas. Today, its main purpose is to enforce rules and regulations of the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department. Its other main focuses are Motor Carrier Enforcement, Hazardous Material enforcement, and lately, drug interdiction. It is the second largest State Police agency in Arkansas, behind the Arkansas State Police.
History
In the 1929 regular session, the Arkansas General Assembly passed Act 299, which was later entitled the State Road Patrol Act. The result of the act was the assignment of administrative oversight of the Arkansas Road Patrol to the Arkansas Highway Department. The men appointed to fill the twenty allocated positions for the patrol became the first enforcement officers in Arkansas to be officially commissioned by state law. The badges issued to the officers were inscribed with, “Arkansas State Highway Police”.
Through the years following the creation of the Patrol, the unit was transferred between various agencies, never for more than 15 years. For a time, the agency was a part of the Arkansas Revenue Department, creating a working relationship that transcended all subsequent relocations of the enforcement group. Today, all Highway Police Officers carry a commission as an Agent of the Commissioner of Revenues.
In 1963, the enforcement effort that began as the State Road Patrol, once again became a part of the Arkansas Highway Department. In 1979, the Division's name was changed to the Arkansas Highway Police. In 1989, the powers and duties of the Transportation Safety Agency were transferred to the Highway Police and officers began to include enforcement of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations.
Today, the Arkansas Highway Police is a nationally recognized leader in the fields of drug interdiction, motor carrier safety and hazardous materials enforcement, and training. Highway Police officers serve as instructors for the Criminal Justice Institute, National Training Center, Transportation Safety Institute, and the Drug Interdiction Assistance Program.