The Division of the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), is a division of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles of the State of Florida, a state law enforcement agency with a primary duty to ensure the safety of the highways and roads of the state. The Department of Public Safety, created in 1939, was reorganized in 1970 and renamed the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Official language(s) English Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Largest metro area Miami metropolitan area Area  Ranked 22nd  - Total 65,795[1] sq mi (170,304[1] km²)  - Width 361 miles (582 km)  - Length 447 miles (721 km)  - % water 17. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      A U.S. state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of... For the band, see The Police. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Mountain road with hairpin turns in the French Alps For other uses, see Road (disambiguation). ... Year 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1970 ([[Rf 1970 == January 1 - The Unix epoch begins at 00:00:00 UTC January 2 - The last studio performance of The Beatles oman numerals|MCMLXX]]) was a common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Organization

The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles is a cabinet agency which reports to the Governor and the Florida Cabinet. The DHSMV's headquarters is located in the Neil Kirkman Building, Tallahassee, Florida. Electra Theodorides-Bustle is the Executive Director of DHSMV. Mr. David Westberry serves as Deputy Executive Director. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1769x1041, 320 KB) Summary State Trooper of the Florida Highway Patrol supervises cleanup of a multi-car wreck on the Howard Frankland Bridge in St. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1769x1041, 320 KB) Summary State Trooper of the Florida Highway Patrol supervises cleanup of a multi-car wreck on the Howard Frankland Bridge in St. ... A ministry is a department of a government, led by a minister. ... A cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of government, typically representing the executive branch. ... An agency is a department of a local or national government responsible for the oversight and administration of a specific function, such as a customs agency or a space agency. ... For other uses, see Governor (disambiguation). ... The Florida Cabinet is a Florida governmental body that engages in collective governance of the state. ... Tallahassee is the capital of Florida, a state of the United States of America. ... Official language(s) English Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Largest metro area Miami metropolitan area Area  Ranked 22nd  - Total 65,795[1] sq mi (170,304[1] km²)  - Width 361 miles (582 km)  - Length 447 miles (721 km)  - % water 17. ... Executive director is a title given to a person who is the head of an executive branch of an organization or company. ... Executive director is a title given to a person who is the head of an executive branch of an organization or company. ...

FHP Troops

The Director of the Florida Highway Patrol holds the rank of Colonel. It has five separate bureaus, the Bureau of Investigations is commanded by a Major, while the other four bureaus are each commanded by a Deputy Director a (Lt. Colonel). The Bureau of Field Operations North & West with (Troops A, B, C, F & H); The Bureau of Field Operations South & East (with Troops D, E, G, K & L); The Bureau of Special Operations (Training, Leadership, Program Planning, Fleet & Property, Accreditation & Policy, Aviation, Employee Selection, Recruitment, Background Investigation, Polygraph, and Budget); and The Bureau of Law Enforcement Support Services (EOC/Domestic Security, Communications, Lt. Governor Aide-de-camp, Inspections, Auxiliary & Reserve, Technology & Communications, Contraband Interdiction, and Traffic Homicide). Nine field troops are commanded by personnel with the rank of Major, which are divided by regions geographically located across the state. A tenth troop handles the Florida Turnpike operations. Troops are subdivided into 30 district headquarters, each commanded by a Captain. Florida Highway Patrol officers are called State Troopers and are not called Highway Patrolman as is in some U.S. states. The FHP and it's troopers are state Law Enforcement Officers and as such are police officers with powers to enforce state law and make arrests, they are not the State Police as Florida's constitution states that the chief law enforcement officer of a Florida county is the Sheriff of that county. The function of the highway patrol is to the safety of the state, U.S., and Interstate Highways of Florida. Florida has an investigative department similar to that of the FBI, called the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. In addition to the FHP, Florida's highways are patrolled by the Florida Department of Transportation's Office of Motor Carrier Compliance (MCCO), a state law enforcement agency responsible for commercial vehicle laws in the state. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... For other uses, see Colonel (disambiguation). ... Major is a military rank the use of which varies according to country. ... In the U.S. Army, Air Force and Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a commissioned officer superior to a major and subordinate to a colonel. ... The French word bureau, which originally referred to an office, can in English refer to: a sort of desk with drawers, such as a writing table or a pedestal desk the Bureau Mazarin is a 17th century desk form named after Cardinal Mazarin a public office or government agency the... For the TV show, see F Troop. ... For the band, see The Police. ... A Lieutenant Governor or Lieutenant-Governor is a government official who is the subordinate or deputy of a Governor or Governor-General. ... An aide-de-camp (French: camp assistant) is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state. ... The current logo for Floridas Turnpike Enterprise. ... Captain is a rank or title with various meanings. ... A trooper (abbreviated Tpr. ... For other uses, see United States (disambiguation) and US (disambiguation). ... State police are a type of sub-national territorial police force, particularly in Australia and the United States. ... Interstate Highways in the lower 48 states. ... The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is a federal criminal investigative, intelligence agency, and the primary investigative arm of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). ... The Florida Department of Transportation, or FDOT, is a decentralized agency charged with the establishment, maintenance, and regulation of public transportation in the state of Florida[1]. // Achievements In 1974, FDOT completed Floridas Turnpike, a 450-mile system of limited access toll highways. ... The Florida Department of Transportation, or FDOT, is a decentralized agency charged with the establishment, maintenance, and regulation of public transportation in the state of Florida[1]. // Achievements In 1974, FDOT completed Floridas Turnpike, a 450-mile system of limited access toll highways. ...

The FHP was created in 1939 with 60 uniformed officers. There have been 41 state troopers killed since its founding (19 shot, 17 auto crashes, 5 aircraft crashes, 1 explosion) The authorized strength of the FHP consist of 1,813 sworn, 547 non-sworn –Total: 2,360.

FHP Reserve: 110 volunteer members have the authority to bear arms and make arrests, but receive no compensation.

FHP Auxiliary: 402 volunteer members (armed and in uniform), assist troopers throughout the state for no compensation.

Special Functions

Traffic Homicide

The Traffic Homicide Investigations Unit was created in 1967 to meet the Florida Highway Patrol's desire to provide a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances resulting in all traffic-related deaths in the State of Florida. The Florida Highway Patrol's Traffic Homicide Investigations Unit consists of 168 full-time investigators, divided into 23 squads statewide.

According to the FHP during the period of July 1, 2000 to June 30, 2001, the Patrol investigated 1,728 fatal traffic crashes.

Drug Interdiction Program

Advanced training of all sworn personnel in drug identification and use detection as well as search and seizure laws; Use of FHP Aircraft for observation of marijuana fields during routine flight duties; Canines; Drug Interdiction teams; and Utilization of fiber optic scopes to locate concealed compartments. A Cannabis sativa plant The drug cannabis, also called marijuana, is produced from parts of the cannabis plant, primarily the cured flowers and gathered trichomes of the female plant. ... Genera Alopex Atelocynus Canis Cerdocyon Chrysocyon Cuon Dusicyon Fennecus Lycalopex Lycaon Nyctereutes Otocyon Pseudalopex Speothos Urocyon Vulpes Canidae is the family of carnivorous and omnivorous mammals commonly known as canines. ...

Drug Interdiction Teams

There are fifty specially trained troopers designated as felony officers and canine handlers comprise twenty felony teams. Each felony team consists of two troopers and one canine, and is assigned to patrol the interstate system and other major highways throughout the state in order to interdict drug trafficking. Currently, the interdiction program has 31 dogs, 11 fiber optic scopes, and 22 BUSTER drug detection devices.

Aircraft

The Florida Highway Patrol Flight Section pilots flew 3481.8 total flight hours during FY 00/001 (July 2000 to June 2001). Of these total flight hours, 1721.9 were flown over speed check zones producing 30,967 arrests. This is an average of 18.0 arrests per hour. The total cost to operate these aircraft during FY 00/01 was $212,472.14, with an average of $61.02 per hour. The total revenue generated by the aircraft was $3,870,875.00, an average of $125.00 per citation.

Armored Personnel Carriers

In November 1998, the Florida Highway Patrol acquired 3 armored personnel carriers from the Department of Management Services, Bureau of Federal Property Assistance. The fully functional units were acquired for a total of $1,500.00. These military surplus V-150 carriers have been re-painted courtesy of the Apalachee Correctional Institution at an average cost of $260.34 per unit, and now proudly display the Florida Highway Patrol colors and seal. These units will be strategically placed throughout the state of Florida as a means of providing law enforcement support and safety in the event of high-risk emergency situations. Currently, the carriers are assigned to Troop D- Orlando,Troop E-Miami, and Troop G-Jacksonville. Nickname: Location in Orange County and the state of Florida Coordinates: , Country State Counties Orange Government  - Mayor Buddy Dyer (D) Area  - City 101 sq mi (261. ... This article is about the city in Florida. ... The Jacksonville skyline and the Acosta Bridge. ...

Mobile Command Units

The Patrol has three mobile command units. They are stationed in Jacksonville (Troop G), Orlando (Troop D), and Miami (Troop E). On February 3, 1999, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority leased a 1986 surplus bus to the FHP for $1 a year. This vehicle was painted by the JTA in FHP's color scheme, complete with decals and lettering, and is used as a mobile command center for natural disasters and other emergencies in north Florida. The Patrol was responsible for outfitting the bus interior with appropriate communications and other support systems. The Broward County Transit Authority entered into a similar partnership with Dade County FHP. Troop E's Mobile Command Center came into service in 1997. The bus was donated by the Broward County Transit Department. The equipment used in the conversion was mostly donated. Bell South donated the wiring and phone system, and South Florida I.M.P.A.C.T. donated the money to purchase the many other items such as computers and printers needed to equip this mobile command center. The total cost was approximately $60,000.00 dollars. In 2000, Troop D's command center was ready to help with special details and emergencies that arise in the central region of the state. The 1990 VanHool Bus was confiscated in the panhandle after it was found to have been used to transport drugs such as pot,heroin and crack. This command post is utilized in coordinating special details such as Black College Reunion, Bike Week, and Race Week. Miami-Dade County (formerly known as Dade County and many times referred to as simply Miami) is a county located in the southeastern part of the state of Florida. ... Daytona Beach Bike Week - 2006 Logo Daytona Beach Bike Week, also called Daytona Bike Week, is a motorcycle event and rally held annually in Daytona Beach, Florida. ...

Community Service Officers

Civilian Community Service Officers are stationed in the Tampa Bay area and the Orlando area, with 14 in Hillsborough County , 14 in Pinellas County and 4 in Orange County. These non-sworn officer positions are responsible for responding to, and investigating minor crashes where there are no criminal charges involved, and providing assistance to stranded motorists. Community Service Officers are not armed, nor do they have any arrest authority. They wear a distinctive colored uniform, which consists of a white shirt with FHP patches and black trousers. Landsat image of Tampa Bay Tampa Bay is a large natural harbor and estuary along the Gulf of Mexico on the western coast of Florida, made up of Old Tampa Bay, Hillsborough Bay, McKay Bay, and the New Tampa Bay. ... Nickname: Location in Orange County and the state of Florida Coordinates: , Country State Counties Orange Government  - Mayor Buddy Dyer (D) Area  - City 101 sq mi (261. ... Hillsborough County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. ... Pinellas County is a county located in the state of Florida. ... Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. ...

Reaction Force Teams

To provide rapid assistance to areas of the state affected by hurricanes or other natural disasters, the Patrol has Reaction Force Teams. These teams are deployed to disaster areas. There are eight teams, each consisting of one lieutenant, three sergeants and 21 troopers or corporals for a total of 25.

Motorcycle Squads

The Florida Highway Patrol currently uses 47 motorcycles for traffic enforcement and crash investigations. Ten motorcycles are assigned to Troop C-Tampa and eleven each are assigned to Dade, Duval ,Orange,and Palm Beach counties. Tampas skyline For alternate meanings, see Tampa (disambiguation) Tampa is a city located in Hillsborough County on the west coast of Florida. ... Miami-Dade County (formerly known as Dade County and many times referred to as simply Miami) is a county located in the southeastern part of the state of Florida. ... Duval County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. ... Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. ... Palm Beach County is a county located in the state of Florida. ...

Tactical Response Teams

There are five tactical response teams (TRT), similar to SWAT, consisting of members specially trained in crowd control, weapons, tactical maneuvers, building searches, service of arrest warrants, and other special techniques.

Ranks

• Colonel- Director of the Florida Highway Patrol (symbol of rank: gold eagle)
• Lieutenant Colonel- Deputy Directors of the Florida Highway Patrol
• Major/Chief (symbol of rank: gold oak leaf)
• Captain (symbol of rank: 2 gold bars)
• Lieutenant (symbol of rank: 1 gold bar)
• Sergeant (symbol of rank: 3 chevrons)
• Corporal/Traffic Homicide Investigator (symbol of rank: 2 chevrons)
• Trooper/Auxiliary Trooper
• Community Service Officer
• Recruit

For other uses, see Colonel (disambiguation). ... In the U.S. Army, Air Force and Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a commissioned officer superior to a major and inferior to a colonel. ... Major is a military rank the use of which varies according to country. ... Chief of Police is the title typically given to the head of a police department, particularly in the United States and Canada. ... Captain is a rank or title with various meanings. ... Lieutenant is a military, naval, paramilitary, fire service or police officer rank. ... For other uses, see Sergeant (disambiguation). ... This article is about the military rank. ... ... A CISCO Security auxiliary police officer stands guard beside an armoured truck while his colleagues deliver high-valued goods to and from commercial clients at Raffles Place, Singapore. ... Community Service Officer (CSO) Under general supervision, provides technical police services in crime prevention, crime investigation, and crime response which do not require full police powers; assists police officers in the maintenance of law and order; performs related duties as required. ... Recruit (from the French recrue, from the verb recroître to grow again, i. ...

Divisions

• Investigations:
  • One Chief of Investigations
  • Four Captains (three Captains are regional commanders over the Northern, Central and Southern Regions)
  • Twenty-seven Lieutenants
  • Ten Sergeants
  • Three Corporals
  • Nine Troopers.

Details: There are 54 sworn and 11 non-sworn personnel assigned to the Bureau of Investigations. These officers conduct investigations on auto theft, driver license theft and fraud, title fraud, odometer fraud, and other criminal activities statewide. During fiscal year 2000/2001, 153 stolen vehicles, valued at $2,414,664, were recovered; 13 vehicles valued at $94,500 were seized; 289 warrants were issued; and 174 arrests for criminal activity were made. The Bureau also conducted 63 professional compliance cases, 954 criminal Investigations, 26 division cases and 19 internal review cases for other divisions within the department.

• Public Information/Safety Education:
  • One Major
  • Twelve Lieutenants
• Recruitment:
  • One Captain (assigned as Chief Recruitment Officer and responsible for coordinating the recruitment program)
  • Six Regional Recruitment Officers (stationed throughout the state)
• Background/Selection:
  • One Lieutenant (Chief Background Investigator)
  • One Sergeant (Assistant Chief Background Investigator)

Details: Thirteen full-time background investigators are assigned throughout the state assisted by FHP personnel in their local troop as needed. This section is responsible for all pre-employment testing and screening of all applicants for the positions of state trooper and community service officer. This screening consists of pre-employment written testing, physical abilities testing, polygraph, eye examination, physical examination, psychological screening, background investigation and drug screening. This section is also charged with the responsibility of handling requests for assistance from other law enforcement agencies throughout the country in conducting background investigations on applicants with their agency.

• Inspections:
  • One Chief (incl. a staff assistant)
  • Three Inspectors (with rank of Captain)
  • One Captain and one Lieutenant (responsible for the Grants, Accreditation, and Policy (GAP) Section)

Details: The Office of Inspections, established in 1995, is responsible to the Director and represents his office while conducting staff inspections throughout the Patrol. GAP is responsible for the Division's Policy development and management, is the Accreditation Manager for the Florida (CFA) and National (CALEA) Accreditation programs and manages the Division's financial grant acquisitions. Additionally, a total of seventeen Inspectors-in-Place (IIP) representing all ten Troops and GHQ, formally trained, assist the permanent Inspectors on a need basis during the staff inspection of field and GHQ units.

History

On November 23, 1931, at the request of the Chairman of the State Road Department, Attorney General Cary D. Landis to Governor Doyle E. Carlton, ruled it shall be the duty of the State Road Department to maintain the state roads and enforce the laws enacted to preserve its physical structure. The road department hired 12 weight inspectors who were placed under the supervision of the division engineers because of the ruling. This was the beginning of state law enforcement in Florida. is the 327th day of the year (328th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1931 (MCMXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1931 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... In most common law jurisdictions, the Attorney General is the main legal adviser to the government, and in some jurisdictions may in addition have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions. ... For other uses, see Governor (disambiguation). ...

In January 1934, a Division of Traffic Enforcement was created as a result of an Attorney General's opinion indicating the division could enforce the motor vehicles laws. As a result, E. A. Shurman was appointed Traffic Inspector. The division was given a distinctive military style uniform, forest green in color. In July 1936, Chairman C. B. Treadway appointed Army Major H. Neil Kirkman, Chief of the State Road Department's Traffic Division due to his experience in the Armed Forces associated with traffic and his background in engineering. Army Major Kirkman was the engineer supervising the construction of the Palatka Memorial Bridge over the St. Johns River. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Year 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display full 1934 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The St. ...

When Fred P. Cone was elected Governor in 1937, as an economic move, he abolished the traffic enforcement division of the State Road Department even though it performed valuable service to the citizens of Florida during the years of service. Frederick Preston Cone (September 28, 1871 - July 28, 1948) was the twenty-seventh governor of Florida. ...

The American Legion and the Jaycees strongly supported the idea of establishing a highway patrol to serve the needs of the motoring public. Richard (Dick) W. Ervin was the attorney for the State Road Department and his supervisor was Arthur B. Hale, Governor Cone's Chairman of the State Road Department. This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... The United States Junior Chamber or Jaycees is an organization aimed at individuals aged 21 to 39 to help them in business and their professional careers. ...

In 1939, the Florida Legislature created the State Department of Public Safety with two divisions; the Florida Highway Patrol and the Division of State Motor Vehicle Drivers Licenses, under the control of Governor Fred P. Cone and Chairman of the State Road Department, Arthur B. Hale. The Florida Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. ...

The legislation authorized 60 officers to patrol the public highways and to enforce all State laws in effect, or hereinafter enacted, regulating and governing traffic, travel and public safety upon the public highways, and providing penalties for violations thereof, including the operation, regulation and licensing of motor vehicles and drivers thereof, and other vehicles thereon, with full police power to bear arms and to arrest persons violating said laws. The beginning salary was $1,500 per year for a highway patrolmen and each year thereafter the salary would be increased $120 a year until a maximum of $2,000 a year was reached.

Funds for the operation of the Department were to come from the sale of driver licenses. Driving licences within the European Union are subdivided in different categories. ...

Director of the Department of Public Safety In September 1939, W. F. Reid was appointed Director of the Department of Public Safety by Governor Fred Cone and the Chairman of the State Road Department. The Department of Public Safety is a state or local government umbrella agency in the United States which serves to assist the certain agencies in their services by providing administrative, financial, and technical services and support for core public safety functions for some or all of the following: Fire and...

On October 1, 1939, H. Neil Kirkman was appointed as the first Commander of the Florida Highway Patrol. Colonel Kirkman was originally from Greensboro, North Carolina but considered Palatka, Florida his home. He entered the United States Army as a Private in 1917 and was discharged as a First Lieutenant. He was a charter member of the American Legion and served as State Commander of the American Legion during 1922 - 1923. He worked in the construction business for many years, particularly in building bridges such as the Memorial Bridge at Palatka and the Clearwater Causeway Bridge. Colonel Kirkman laid the groundwork for what has become the motto of the Florida Highway Patrol: "Service, Courtesy, Protection". The First Uniform In 1939, the uniform color for the Florida Highway Patrol was forest green. The forest green whipcord blouse had orange piping around the epaulets and shirt pockets with silver buttons carrying the State seal. There was an orange and blue shoulder patch on the left shoulder, with silver collar ornaments - FHP on the left lapel and a wheel with wings attached to each side on the right lapel signifying traffic. There was a badge, chain and whistle. The shirt was forest green with orange piping around the epaulets and shirt pockets. Trousers were forest green with 1-1/2" black stripe. Shoes were black. In addition, each trooper was issued two pair of riding britches with 1-1/2" black stripe and a pair of black boots for winter dress. Commander is a military rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... This article is about a term used in economics. ... Etiquette is the code that governs the expectations of social behavior, the conventional norm. ... Look up Protection in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses, see Uniform (disambiguation). ... Forest Green Rovers F.C. are an English football team based in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, currently playing in the Nationwide Conference. ... Whipcord is a strong worsted or cotton fabric made of hard-twisted yarns with a diagonal cord or rib. ... A blouse A blouse most commonly refers to a womans shirt, although the term is also used for some mens military uniform shirts. ... Emperor Norton regularly strolled the streets of San Francisco in an elaborate blue uniform complete with tarnished gold-plated epaulettes. ... State seal may refer to one of the following: One of Seals of the U.S. states One of State seals of Russian Empire Category: ...

The collar ornament design is a wing and wheel similar to the insignia that appears on the Ohio State Highway Patrol cars today. The original insignias had a broken spoke in the wheel which is the origin of the Broken Spoke Club. For other uses, see Fashion (disambiguation). ... The Ohio State Highway Patrol is the state police agency for the State of Ohio. ...

A black Sam Browne belt, 3" wide, with handcuff case, cartridge clip, and a swivel or swing holster carrying a .38 caliber Colt revolver on the right side, with a shoulder strap to support the revolver and other equipment, completed the body uniform. Samuel Browne, 1897 General Sir Samuel James Browne VC, GCB, KCSI (3 October 1824 - 14 March 1901) was a British Army cavalry officer in India and the Near East, best known today as the namesake of the Sam Browne belt. ... Colts Manufacturing Company (CMC--formerly Colts Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company) is a United States firearms manufacturer founded in 1847. ...

The first beige Stetson, or "Campaign", hats purchased for the Patrol in 1939, were $12.50 each. The hat, was the Stetson 3X Beaver, with a 1-1/2" orange hat band and a thin, 32" long, tan leather head strap to hold the hat in place. Before the turn of the century the Stetson 3X Beaver, as its name implies, was made from genuine beaver pelt; however, it is not known what type of fur, if any, our original Stetsons were made from. For the album by The Arrogant Worms, see Beige (album). ... The Stetson Cavalry Hat For the university, see Stetson University. ... Species C. canadensis C. fiber Beavers are semi-aquatic rodents native to North America and Europe. ...

The uniform of the FHP and it's ornaments originated with the military. The Patrol's Stetson hat had first appeared during the civil war, was beige in color, rounded on top instead of creased down the middle, and was worn by the officers of the Union Forces. Confederate Forces also wore the same hat but gray in color.

First Training School In November, 1939, the first training school was held in Bradenton, Florida, with 40 recruits. The school was directed by Captain George Mingle of the Ohio Highway Patrol, a personal friend of Colonel Kirkman. Thirty-two recruits graduated and became troopers. Twenty troopers were issued specially equipped Ford motor vehicles and twelve were assigned Model 84, Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Bradenton is a city in Manatee County, Florida, United States. ... “Ford” redirects here. ... Logo on a 2003 Harley Davidson The Harley-Davidson Motor Company (NYSE: HDI) is a manufacturer of motorcycles based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. ...

On December 12, 1939, "Fourteen Special Autos" arrived in Bradenton for patrol use. The black and cream, two-door Ford Coaches were equipped with sirens and bulletproof windshields. “Ford” redirects here. ... It has been suggested that bulletproof (reliability) be merged into this article or section. ...

At this time the Patrol had no radio communication. Troopers would make regular stops at service stations or grocery stores along their routes to call in for assignments, reports of wrecks, and messages.

By the end of 1940, the first full year of operation, the Florida Highway Patrol had 59 officers. The State was divided into three divisions: Northern, Central and Southern. The commanding officer of each division was a Lieutenant. Since there were no district offices, all the records were kept in Tallahassee and each trooper was responsible for mailing his daily reports to Tallahassee.

The first year of activity included: 154,829 hours of patrol time, 1,000 accidents investigated, 29,860 hours at the station, 127 motorists killed, 1,938,564 miles patrolled, 1,132 persons injured and 4,836 motorists arrested.

The 1941 Legislature increased the authorized strength of the Patrol to 190 officers and the pay increased to $150 per month. In the fall, the State Road Department supplied the Division Commanders an office in their district; the Northern District was Lake City, the Central District was Bartow and the Southern District was Ft. Lauderdale. Lake City is the name of a number of places in the United States: Lake City, Arkansas Lake City, Colorado Lake City, Florida Lake City, Georgia Lake City, Iowa Lake City, Michigan Lake City, Minnesota Lake City, Pennsylvania Lake City, South Carolina Lake City, South Dakota Lake City, Tennessee Lake... Bartow is a city located in the U.S. State of Florida in Central Florida east of the Tampa Bay area. ... Fort Lauderdale, known as the Venice of America, is a city located in Broward County, Florida. ...

In 1948, Florida received national recognition for its driver license program from the National Safety Council. The National Safety Council of the US is a not-for-profit safety organization that was chartered by the US government in 1913. ...

The Patrol's Uniform During Director Gilliam's administration, World War II was in progress and textile mills were using all green wool for military uniforms. Mr. Gilliam selected the army officers' pink material for the uniform trousers and britches. In 1943, the Patrol's uniform blouse was olive drab whipcord with silver buttons bearing the state seal, a patch on the left shoulder (the orange emblem with the word "Florida" spelled out), silver collar ornament "F.H.P." on the left lapel and the "Winged Wheel" ornament on the right, signifying traffic. A badge, chain, whistle, army pink trousers with a 1 inch black stripe from waist to hem, black riding britches, and one pair of black plain-toed riding boots completed the uniform. Instructions were to wear riding britches and boots on each Friday, Saturday and Sunday until the forest green uniforms were phased out. Also, part of the uniform was the graphite blue Stetson hat, Sam Browne 3" gun belt , plus handcuff and cartridge cases. Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Britches can refer to Breeches Britches is the name of a baby monkey rescued by the Animal Liberation Front. ... Official language(s) English Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Largest metro area Miami metropolitan area Area  Ranked 22nd  - Total 65,795[1] sq mi (170,304[1] km²)  - Width 361 miles (582 km)  - Length 447 miles (721 km)  - % water 17. ...

Radio Communication System The Florida Highway Patrol radio communications system began operating in 1943. Mr. Earl Burchard installed the communication system a (Motorola). Beginning in Bartow, headquarters for the Central Division. Motorola Inc. ...

By the end of 1944, there were 13 stations statewide in operation with mobile units in all the patrol cars. Monitoring services with the larger police departments were provided. Communication was established with Georgia and Alabama by placing receivers in stations along the borders, which proved very beneficial for all three states.

War and the Patrol

When World War II erupted in Europe, many troopers enlisted. Other troopers were called up for defense work. Because of the war, it was hard to get and keep patrol officers. The Patrol's sworn officers were down to 100 and were kept busy escorting military convoys, including gasoline tankers filled with fuel for military installations, and patrolling Florida's 1,197 statute miles of coastline looking for illegal aliens trying to slip ashore. The Patrol, working closely with the military police, was spread thin during these war years.

In April 1942, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, aided by the Florida Highway Patrol, launched a series of raids on Florida's east coast. They entered 67 homes of German and Italian nationals, seized guns, ammunition, dynamite, caps, fuses, and radio receivers. Some of the persons captured were classified by the FBI as dangerous. Throughout the war, patrolmen aided in the search and apprehension of prisoners of war.

Post war

In the spring of 1951, The Patrol's use of a single shoulder patch on the right shoulder was adopted by every Highway Patrol and State Police organization in the United States. The patch appeared in a magazine published by the Florida Peace Officers Association and soon all of Florida's law enforcement agencies adopted the idea.

In late 1952, the Patrol realigned the divisions. Boundaries were changed and divisions became Troops and were designated as A, B, C, D, E and Headquarters Troop.

In the beginning, while on probation, all members were classified as Patrolmen. When they completed their probation, they were classified as Patrol Officers. That changed in 1952, when the new classification for members on the Patrol was Trooper.

Teletype Network In 1953, a statewide private teletype network was installed by the Patrol, which consisted of two circuits with seven machines on each circuit, providing fourteen terminals throughout the State. This network permitted the sending and receiving of messages between the troops and general headquarters.

The Florida Highway Patrol Auxiliary (FHPA) was formed in 1955 in cooperation with the Florida American Legion. An Act authorizing the Auxiliary was approved on May 14, 1957.

In 1962, the FHP initiated the use of aircraft for traffic law enforcement with two Piper aircraft. Look up Piper in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

In 1964, civil rights demonstrations began in St. Augustine. The Patrol was sent by the Governor to assist local law enforcement. Mobs were meeting in open conflict and shots were being fired into homes and automobiles. During 15 days of rioting, 306 persons were arrested and a large number of weapons were confiscated.

On July 1, 1965, Florida became one of the first states to use blue emergency lights on its official patrol cars. The use of blue lights was restricted to the Florida Highway Patrol and other police vehicles.

Florida's voters revised the Florida Constitution in the November election and governmental reorganization took place on July 1, 1969. Florida had 125 state agencies. At the end of reorganization, Florida had 25. Many agencies were merged, including the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Department of Public Safety which formed the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. The new department consisted of four divisions; Florida Highway Patrol, Driver License, Motor Vehicles and Administrative Services.

On July 1, 1971, Joe Willie DeCoursey was the first African-American of the Florida Highway Patrol. He reported to the FHP Training Academy on July 4, 1971. Languages Predominantly American English Religions Protestantism (chiefly Baptist and Methodist); Roman Catholicism; Islam Related ethnic groups Sub-Saharan Africans and other African groups, some with Native American groups. ...

In 1972, a special task force of 225 troopers was trained and equipped for crowd control and sent to Miami Beach for both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions. State forces arrested approximately 1,000 demonstrators and during the last day of the convention activity, approximately 25 FHP personnel required medical attention.

Patricia Phillips was the first female trooper hired by FHP. She started on October 17, 1977

In 1983, the Patrol purchased its first Ford Mustang Patrol Cars. Patrol cars of the past were as fast but did not have the high speed handling capabilities of the Mustang. The vehicle responded well to high speed and low speed curves. In 2002 the Patrol purchased 200 Chevrolet Camaro patrol cars with new low profile Whelen light bars, each trooper issued the high performance patrol car must complete a five-hour familiarization class on the handling, braking and acceleration of the 310 horsepower vehicle. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... For other Ford Mustang models and concepts, see Ford Mustang Variants. ... Chevrolet (IPA: - French origin), (colloquially Chevy) , is a brand of automobile, produced by General Motors (GM). ... Modified 1969 Chevrolet Camaro. ... A Japanese police unit with a red light bar. ...

In 1998, Florida ranks fourth in population with an estimated 14,720,385 people. An influx of approximately 450 people per day or 160,200 people per year migrates to Florida according to the University of Florida's report on sustaining Florida's resources. The University of Florida (Florida, UFL, or UF) is a public land-grant, space-grant, research university located in Gainesville, Florida. ...

In 2001, the FHP was heavily criticized by a St. Petersburg Times article ("The Lost Patrol") that depicted the agency as understaffed and poorly managed. The report has led to changes at the agency. Logo of the St. ...

In 2006, the decision was made to transition from the trademark blue and white light bars to red and blue LED lightbars in order to improve both day and night visibility.

Aggressive Driving Enforcement: In response to the growing problem of "Aggressive Driving", the Florida Highway Patrol launched a selective traffic enforcement campaign in South Florida called "Eye on 95". The program was piloted in Dade (Miami) and Broward (Ft. Lauderdale) counties using two confiscated Jeep Grand Cherokees equipped with grant-funded in-car video equipment, radar, laser, and other speed measuring devices. The Jeeps are designated as observation vehicles, and work with second vehicles that are standard issue marked or unmarked Florida Highway Patrol cars. These vehicles are designated as the enforcement vehicles, and are utilized to overtake the violator upon receiving information from the observation vehicle. The enforcement vehicle conducts the traffic stop of the violator and takes enforcement action for the team. As a result of this successful pilot project, similar aggressive driving enforcement programs have been developed in all other areas of the state. For other uses, see Jeep (disambiguation). ... The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a mid-size SUV made by Jeep, a division of DaimlerChrysler. ...

Demographics

• Male: 90%
• Female: 10%

• White: 75%
• African American/Black: 14%
• Hispanic: 10%
• Asian: 1%

Link

Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics, 2000: Data for Individual State and Local Agencies with 100 or More Officers

Trivia

• It is illegal to own or operate a car in the colors of the Florida Highway Patrol; if one is caught in the black and cream paint scheme, you can be charged with a misdemeanor (Florida State Statute 321.03).

• The paint scheme adds $657 to the purchase of each vehicle.

• Prior to sale, the patrol defaces the cars so that they cannot be misconstrued as official law enforcement vehicles. The defaced, two-tone paint deflates each car's resale value by approximately $400.

• The black and cream paint scheme is actually camouflage to help the vehicle blend in with the road surface (black) and parched grass medians (cream).

See also

• List of law enforcement agencies in Florida

This is a list of law enforcement agencies in the state of Florida. ...

External links

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