Abbreviation MSHP Employees 2,400 (as of 2017) | Formed 1931 | |
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Legal personality Governmental: Government agency Operations jurisdiction* State of Missouri, U.S. |
The Missouri State Highway Patrol is the highway patrol agency for Missouri and has jurisdiction anywhere within the state. Colonel Sandy K. Karsten has served as Superintendent since Feb 1, 2017.
Contents
- Purpose
- Organization
- Vehicles
- Weapons
- Command
- Field Operations Bureau
- Criminal Investigation Bureau
- Personnel killed on duty
- Badge and rank structure
- References
In 1992, MSHP became only the 10th State Police/Highway Patrol to receive accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).
The Missouri State Highway Patrol is a division of the Missouri Department of Public Safety.
Purpose
State laws pertaining to the Highway Patrol including its creation, powers, structure, mission and duties are specified in Chapter 43 of Missouri Revised Statutes (RSMo). According to Chapter 43.025 RSMo: "The primary purpose of the highway patrol is to enforce the traffic laws and promote safety upon the highways. As near as practicable all personnel of the patrol shall be used for carrying out these purposes." The MSHP has a criminal investigation division that investigates crimes statewide such as murder, robbery, burglary, rape and financial crimes. The Missouri State Highway Patrol is more than a Highway Patrol; MSHP functions more like a full service state police agency.
Organization
General Headquarters (GHQ) and the Law Enforcement Academy are located in Jefferson City, Missouri, the state capital.
The state is divided into nine Troops, with Troop headquarters and communications centers located in the following cities:
In addition, three of the Troops maintain service centers:
Vehicles
The MSHP utilizes a variety of vehicles, including the Dodge Charger, the Ford Police Interceptor (Explorer), the RAM 1500 and 2500 series, the Chevrolet Tahoe, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and 2500 series, the Chevrolet Impala 9C1, and the Ford F-150 and F-250. Both regularly marked and slicktop vehicles are used frequently. Colors include: white, tan, blue, silver, black and gray.
Weapons
MSHP troopers are issued a Glock 22 GEN 4 .40 caliber pistol, a 5.56x45mm Colt AR-15A1 (M16A1), and a 12 ga Remington 870 Police Magnum. Prior to the Glock 22 GEN 4, troopers had the older Glock 22 .40 which was the first semi-automatic pistol issued to the agency replacing the Smith and Wesson 586 .357 magnum revolver in 1991.
Command
Field Operations Bureau
Criminal Investigation Bureau
Personnel killed on duty
Thirty-one officers have been killed on police duty. One member died while serving in the military in World War II.
Badge and rank structure
The Missouri State Highway Patrol is one of only five State Patrols forces that do not wear a badge on their uniform shirts.
Their rank structure is as listed: