West Virginia State Police
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The West Virginia State Police is the fourth oldest state police agency in the United States. It was born in controversy in the second extraordinary session of the West Virginia Legislature on June 19, 1919.
Then Governor John Jacob Cornwell was insistent upon having a state police force which he said, "was mandatory in order for him to uphold the laws of our state." Part of the compromise was the name of the organization: West Virginia Department of Public Safety was the official name, however, over the years, most citizens have accepted "State Police" as the unofficial name.
During the 1995 legislative session, the name was officially changed to the West Virginia State Police.
West Virginia troopers enforce traffic laws statewide, investigate crimes and protect the governor and his immediate family. The superintendent of the West Virginia State Police, David Lemmon, appointed in January 2005 by governor-elect Joe Manchin, supports stronger drug laws and has emphasized the importance of recruiting cadets with college degrees. However, the State Police doesn't currently require a college degree for employment as a trooper.
Members of the West Virginia State Police receive their training at the West Virginia State Police Academy located in Institute, near the capital Charleston and closer still to the agency's headquarters in South Charleston. Upon appointment, cadets undergo an intense 28-week training program and, upon graduation, serve a twelve month probationary period.
Just like police agencies nationwide, the shortage of sworn personnel in some counties has raised debates about the need for more funding to recruit much more cadets. As of 2005, the agency employed 974 people, of which 634 were sworn officers, the rest being civilian staff members, according to numbers provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Some critics say the state needs at least 1,000 troopers in order for the State Police to operate on a 24-hour basis in all 55 counties. Pay has sometimes been an issue. Many West Virginia cities, such as Charleston, Ranson, Charles Town, and counties such as Kanawha and Jefferson, currently have higher pay for their police forces. This is perhaps ironic since the State Police not only trains its own troopers but also all other law enforcement officers from the state as it is the only agency to operate a law enforcement academy in West Virginia.
Early in February 2006, Governor Manchin announced that he would support $6.2 million worth of pay raises over the next three years. Effective since July 1, 2006, a trooper that graduated from the State Police Academy was expected to be starting at $34,958.04 ($28,122 while training at the academy). That salary is now competitive with some local agencies across West Virginia.
West Virginia State Police officers wear a forest-green uniform and campaign hat.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- West Virginia State Police Academy Museum
- Charleston Daily Mail
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
[edit] External link
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