Connecticut State Police

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The Connecticut State Police (CSP) is a division of the Connecticut Department of Public Safety responsible for traffic regulation and law enforcement across the state of Connecticut, especially in areas underserved by local police departments. The CSP currently has approximately 1,035 troopers, and is headquartered in Middletown, Connecticut.

1 History
2 Present-day CSP
3 Special units
4 External links

[edit] History

The Connecticut State Police was formed in 1903, making it the oldest state police agency in the United States. It was originally comprised of five officers primarily responsible for interdicting the production of moonshine. Early officers travelled the state by railroad until automobile and motorcycle patrols were instituted, and troopers' would often spend five to six days working, eating, and sleeping in the barracks constructed around the state. By 1924, seven such barracks had been built. The organization was heavily militaristic, and its internal culture was similar in this regard to other state police agencies in New England.

The 1940s was perhaps the greatest period of development of the State Police, which under Commissioner Edward J. Hickey saw the formalization of identified patrol cars, the founding of a forensics lab and a training academy, the introduction of state police women (female troopers, full counterparts to the males in the agency, came about in the late 1970s) the development of the nation's first radar system, the establishment of a state police FM communications system, and the creation of the CSP Auxiliary Troopers program. During this period the state police expanded its patrol districts to eleven barracks.

In the 1960s, the barracks-focused structure of the department was reformed, leading to the modern shift schedule and allowing troopers to reside at home.

The Connecticut State Police are the primary law enforcement agency for approximately 1/2 of the State's 169 Towns.

Approximately 40 of these communities are patrolled solely by normal State Police patrols. The other communities have engaged in a cost-sharing contract agreement with the CSP known as a "Resident Trooper" which provides a Trooper assigned to the community on a full-time basis. The title dates to a time when the Resident Trooper was an actual resident of the town, and had an office and official telephone located at their personal residence. Resident Troopers have for many decades not been required to be residents of the community they are assigned to, and offices have been moved to space provided by the host community. Costs, which include salary, equipment, and cruiser, are split between the town (30%) and state (70%). In Towns that have a Resident Trooper program, the State Police will supervise and dispatch local Constables with police powers (if any). Some towns with large Resident Trooper & Constable programs will include State Police Sergeants in the Resident Trooper program to provide an appropriate level of supervision to full-time constable forces.

[edit] Present-day CSP

Currently, the CSP operates out of twelve barracks known as "troops", including a troop at Bradley International Airport. Depending on their location, some troops are more responsible for interstate traffic patrol, while others are primarily used for law enforcement in rural districts.

Whichever duty assigned, a common motto found within the CSP is "A Trooper Rides Alone" -- signifying that due to the department's small size and wide geographic reach, each individual trooper must rely on his or her own individual skills in dealing with whatever situation arises. This motto infuses the department with a common culture of self-reliance and innovation.

[edit] Special units

Like other state police agencies, the Connecticut State Police has several sub-divisions specializing in addressing particular crimes or security needs. The Emergency Services Unit consists of the K-9 section, Dive Team, Bomb Squad, Aviation Unit, Tactical Operations Team, and Hazardous Materials Response Unit. The Bureau of Criminal Investigation consists of the Statewide Narcotics Task Force, The Connecticut Regional Auto Theft Task Force, The Casino Licensing and Investigations Unit, the Statewide Organized Crime Investigative Task Force, the Central Criminal Intelligence unit, and the Statewide Fugitive Apprehension Unit. There are also three Major Crime Squads dedicated to Homicide, Kidnapping, Robbery and other serious crimes against persons cases.