West Virginia State Police


The West Virginia State Police is a state law enforcement agency in the United States that provides police services to the residents of West Virginia. It is the fourth-oldest state police agency in the US, and was created in the second extraordinary session of the West Virginia Legislature on June 19, 1919, as a result of uprisings surrounding organized labor in the coal and mine industries.

History

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 until 1995 when the name was changed to "West Virginia State Police" during the legislative session.

Today

Like other state law enforcement agencies, 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 is Colonel Jan Cahill with Lieutenant Colonel Dwayne Bowles and Major Vince Deeds serving under Colonel Cahill
West Virginia State Police troopers wear a forest-green uniform and campaign hat. They receive their training at the West Virginia State Police Academy located in Institute, a suburb of Charleston, and near the agency's headquarters in South Charleston. Upon appointment, cadets undergo an intense training program at the State Police Academy.
The West Virginia State Police also runs its own forensic laboratory and provide scientific investigation services to law enforcement agencies across the state. Services offered to criminal justice agencies include biochemistry, drug, firearm investigations, latent prints, questioned documents, toxicology and trace evidence. The crime lab is accredited by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board.

Recruitment and training

The West Virginia Division of Criminal Justice Services is responsible for setting minimum physical ability standards for police officers working in the state. In 2007, following a national trend, it relaxed the physical ability standards for aspiring police officers. Right now, any police applicant must do at least 27 push-ups/minute, 29 sit-ups/minute and be able to run in a maximum time limit of 14 minutes 53 seconds. The State Police, however, chose not to follow those standards unlike most local police agencies in West Virginia. The agency's recruiters still require applicants to perform at least 27 push-ups/minute, 29 sit-ups/minute and those same applicants have to run in no more than 14 minutes 52 seconds, which were all the initial minimum requirements for all police departments in West Virginia.
Training at the paramilitary academy lasts about 25 weeks compared to about 16 weeks for officers from other departments. When cadets graduate, they are promoted to the rank of "Trooper." They can be stationed anywhere in the 55 West Virginia counties working from detachments. They serve an eighteen-month probationary period that starts at the time they enter the academy. After completing successfully that probationary period, they are eligible to receive an associate degree in police sciences through the Marshall Technical and Community College program.

Personnel

The State Police has struggled with staffing issues for many years and the problem seems to persist mainly due to lack of funding to dramatically increase the number of road troopers. As of 2013, the agency employed well above 600 sworn officers, making it de facto the largest law enforcement agency in the state. The State Police is heavily relied upon to assist in many of the 55 West Virginia counties. In September 2013, news organizations started reporting a new initiative from the agency to increase manpower. The Accelerated Cadet Program targets local West Virginia police officers who want to join the State Police. Once hired, such officers would train for only 11 weeks instead of the 25 weeks normal cadets go through.
The State Police is and has been the only agency to operate a law enforcement academy in West Virginia. It trains its own troopers but also all other law enforcement officers from the state: sheriff deputies, city and college police officers, and motor carrier enforcement officers who, unlike in some states, are not part of the State Police but have their own separate agency.

Rank structure

TitleInsignia
Superintendent - Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel
Major
Captain
First Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
First Sergeant
Sergeant
Corporal
Trooper First Class
Senior Trooper
Trooper

Vehicles

State Police vehicles are composed of a variety of makes with blue and gold colors accompanied by the agency's logo on the side front doors. For many years, the agency has used Ford Crown Victorias for the road. In recent years however, State Police has phased in Chevy Impalas and the new Ford Police Interceptor and Police Interceptor Utility into its fleet. The agency also uses unmarked vehicles that are usually assigned to command staff members. Vehicles are mainly equipped with blue LED lights.

Weapons

Troopers are issued the.45 ACP Smith & Wesson 4566TSW, a version of the Smith & Wesson Model 4506. It has a bobbed hammer and blue metal finish. Each WVSP 4566TSW has the agency name and shoulder patch engraved. Each Trooper is issued an attachable flashlight which mounts to their pistol.
As of December 2018, Troopers are now using Glock 17 Gen 5 9mm handguns.

Organization

Troop 0 Command - South Charleston
Troop 1 Command - Shinnston
Troop 2 Command - Charles Town
Troop 3 Command - Elkins
Troop 4 Command - South Charleston
Troop 5 Command - Logan
Troop 6 Command - Beckley
Troop 7 Parkways Command - Beckley
Troop 8 Bureau of Criminal Investigation

Fallen officers

Since the establishment of the West Virginia State Police, 41 officers have died while on duty.

Additional references