- Colorado State Patrol
-
Colorado State Patrol Abbreviation CSP 
Patch of the Colorado State Patrol. 
Logo of the Colorado State Patrol. 
Badge of the Colorado State Patrol. Agency overview Formed September 23, 1935 Preceding agency Colorado State Highway Courtesy Patrol Employees 936 (as of 2004) [1] Legal personality Governmental: Government agency Jurisdictional structure Operations jurisdiction* State of Colorado, USA 
Colorado State Police Districts Size 104,185 square miles (269,840 km2) Population 4,861,515 (2007 est.)[2] General nature Operational structure Headquarters Lakewood, Colorado Troopers 681 (as of 2004) [3] Civilians 255 (as of 2004) [4] Agency executive Colonel Jim M. Wolfinbarger, Chief Parent agency Colorado Department of Public Safety Facilities Districts 6 Website http://csp.state.co.us/ Footnotes * Divisional agency: Division of the country, over which the agency has usual operational jurisdiction. Main article: Law and government of ColoradoThe Colorado State Patrol (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 Colorado State Patrol primarily enforces traffic laws on state highways and guards the state capitol and the governor of Colorado.
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. The patrols carry the Smith & Wesson M&P .40.[5] All Troopers are issued a shotgun and are given the option to carry a department owned or personally owned rifle, either a M-14 or a AR-15.
Less-Lethal Weapons
All Troopers are issued an ASP baton and OC. Currently one metro Denver troop is in the pilot phase for the Taser.
Goals and Mission of the CSP
Strategic Goals
- To provide a safe and secure environment on Colorado's highways.
- To secure necessary resources to provide expected customer service.
- To provide an environment for employees which is conducive to high quality service.
- To maintain a highly trained, motivated, competent, work force providing professional service.
- To provide high quality law enforcement service through sharing of resources to maximize taxpayer dollars.
Mission
- Enforce 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.
- Investigate and report traffic crashes occurring on public property.
- Direct, control and regulate motor vehicle traffic on public roadways.
- Inspect vehicles for safety-related equipment violations.
- Inspect vehicles carrying livestock for brand inspection certificates.
- Provide community education and administer safety programs to the public.
- Regulate road closures for special events, inclement weather, or when necessary to prevent further injury or damage following an emergency.
- Promulgate and enforce rules and regulations for commercial motor vehicles.
- Operate a state-wide law enforcement telecommunications system.
- Perform criminal interdiction on Colorado highways, focusing on the transport of illegal drugs.
- Assist in state homeland security efforts.
- Provide emergency assistance in the event of major disasters, civil protests, or when requested by local law enforcement.
The Colorado State Patrol headquarters is located in a nondescript building in Lakewood, Colorado.
Rank Structure
Commissioned Officers
Rank Insignia Description Colonel 
Chief of the Patrol Lieutenant Colonel 
Region Commander Major 
District/Branch Commander Captain 
Troop/Section Commander Non-Commissioned Officers
Rank Insignia Sergeant Major 
Master Sergeant 
Sergeant 
Corporal 
Master Trooper and
Technician
Trooper 
Special programs
Colorado State Patrol car, with the department's distinctive silver paint schemeAlive 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.
Seat Belt Survivor Program
Since the CSP recognizes that seat belts are an important means of preventing injury or death in automobile accidents, this program exists to identify and recognize motorists who have survived a potentially fatal or serious-injury crash through the use of seat belts.
Specialty Units
Accident Reconstruction Team
Investigative Services Section
Executive Security Unit
Homeland Security Section
Motor Carrier Safety Section
Hazardous Materials Section
Immigration Enforcement Unit
Aircraft Section
Motorcycle Unit
Fallen officers
Since the establishment of the Colorado State Patrol, 24 officers have died in the line of duty.[6] The most recent being Trooper Zachariah Templeton, who was struck by a vehicle on I-76 on October 11, 2007, while helping a man load plastic water containers that had fallen off of his trailer. He died the next day. Another trooper, Trooper Scott Hinshaw was seriously injured. Trooper Hinshaw had just gotten off the phone with his wife and was looking forward to his anniversary that night. Trooper Templeton is survived by his young daughter.
The most well-known death of a Colorado State Trooper is that of Trooper Jason Lee Manspeaker on January 23, 2001. Trooper Manspeaker was investigating a possible sighting of the 'Texas Seven' when he was involved in a fatal automobile accident. The 'Texas Seven' were responsible for the death of Officer Aubrey Wright Hawkins of the Irving, Texas Police Department
See also
- List of law enforcement agencies in Colorado
- State police
- State patrol
- Highway patrol
- State of Colorado
References
External links
Highway patrol/State police in the United States States Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming • HawaiiFederal District Insular areas Categories:- Law enforcement agencies of Colorado
- Lakewood, Colorado
- State law enforcement agencies of Colorado
- Government agencies established in 1935
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