Girish Mahajan (Editor)

Colorado State Patrol

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Abbreviation
  
CSP

Operations jurisdiction*
  
State of Colorado, USA

Employees
  
1108 (as of 2016)

Colorado State Patrol

Formed
  
September 23, 1935; 81 years ago (1935-09-23)

Preceding agency
  
Colorado State Highway Courtesy Patrol

Legal personality
  
Governmental: Government agency

The Colorado State Patrol (CSP) (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 CSP primarily enforces traffic laws on interstates and state highways, guards the state capitol and the Governor of Colorado, and has statewide general law enforcement jurisdiction.

Contents

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. Additionally, all troopers are issued a Remington 870 shotgun and are given the option to carry either a department or personally owned M14 or AR-15 select-fire rifle.

All CSP troopers are issued an ASP baton and OC, with Tasers started being used in 2011.

Vehicles and aircraft

In 2009, after many years of using Ford Crown Victoria patrol cars, the CSP began to introduce Dodge Chargers into its fleet. The CSP also uses Chevrolet Tahoes, Ford Police Interceptors (both sedan and utility models) and Chevrolet Caprices. The Hazardous Materials and Motor Carrier Safety sections use Ford F-150 trucks.

The CSP operates five fixed wing aircraft:

  • One Beechcraft King Air
  • One Cessna 340
  • Three Cessna 180s

    • Mission

    The CSP's mission is to "ensure a safe and secure environment for all persons by utilizing the strengths of our members to provide professional law enforcement services that reflect our core values of Honor, Duty and Respect".

    Specific duties include:

  • Enforcing 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.
  • Investigating and report traffic crashes occurring on public property.
  • Directing, controlling and regulating motor vehicle traffic on public roadways.
  • Inspecting vehicles for safety-related equipment violations.
  • Inspecting vehicles carrying livestock for brand inspection certificates.
  • Providing community education and administer safety programs to the public.
  • Regulating road closures for special events, inclement weather, or when necessary to prevent further injury or damage following an emergency.
  • Promulgating and enforcing rules and regulations for commercial motor vehicles.
  • Operating a statewide law enforcement telecommunications system.
  • Performing criminal interdiction on Colorado highways, focusing on the transport of illegal drugs.
  • Assisting in state homeland security efforts.
  • Providing emergency assistance in the event of major disasters, civil protests, or when requested by local law enforcement.

    • 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.

    Specialty units

    CSP Specialty Units include:

  • Vehicular Crimes Unit
  • Aircraft Section
  • Canine Team
  • 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 CSP was established 27 officers have died in the line of duty, with the most recent being Trooper Cody Donahue who was struck and killed by a commercial vehicle on November 25, 2016.

    References

    Colorado State Patrol Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA