New York State Police

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New York State Police

The New York State Police (NYSP) is the state police force of 4,600 sworn Troopers for the state of New York. It was established on April 11, 1917 by the New York Legislature, in response to the 1913 murder of construction foreman Sam Howell in Westchester County, which at that time did not have a local police department.

History
Present time
Structure and organization

Troops of the New York State Police

Demographics
Uniforms
Training
Service pistols
Vehicles
See also
References
External links

History

The department's first superintendent was George Fletcher Chandler, who was responsible for much of the department's early organization and development. Chandler coined the term "New York State Troopers" and was an early advocate of officers carrying their weapons exposed on a belt, which was not common practice at the time. ^[1]

Present time

The current superintendent of the NYS Police is Harry J. Corbitt. Corbitt, who was nominated by current New York State Governor David Paterson, replaced acting superintendent Preston Felton. (Felton had replaced the retired Wayne E. Bennett)

Structure and organization

The NYSP geographically divides New York State in to ten "Troops", each comprising several counties. An additional (Troop T) has the responsibility of patrolling the entire length of the New York State Thruway. Another, Troop "NYC" provides investigative support in New York City. Each is supervised by a "Troop Commander" usually of the rank of Major.

Troops of the New York State Police

^[2]

Troop A - Counties: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans & Wyoming
Troop B - Counties: Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton and St. Lawrence
Troop C - Counties: Broome, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Otsego, Tioga and Tompkins
Troop D - Counties: Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga and Oswego
Troop E - Counties: Cayuga, Chemung, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne and Yates
Troop F - Counties: Greene, Orange, Rockland, Sullivan and Ulster
Troop G - Counties: Albany, Fulton, Hamilton, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren and Washington
Troop H - Headquarters Troop (Albany)
Troop K - Counties: Columbia, Dutchess, Putnam and Westchester
Troop L - Counties: Nassau and Suffolk
Troop NYC - Counties: Boroughs of New York City
Troop T - New York State Thruway

Each Troop encompasses 2-4 "Zones" which are referred to simply by a Zone number. There are up to several "sub-stations" located within each zone. A patrol car number will contain the Troop and Zone identification. Example: car 1A30 would be a patrol car in Zone 1 of Troop A.

Demographics^[3]

Male: 92%
Female: 8%

White: 83%
African-American/Black: 10%
Hispanic: 7%

Uniforms

New Trooper (since approximately 1958) uniforms are grey and wool. The Gor-tex jacket is the only issued apparel item that is not wool. The old uniforms (shirts, jackets and britches) were not grey, but made of equal parts white fiber and equal parts black fiber to symbolize the impartiality of justice. Uniforms are also treated like a U.S. Flag, in that they are burned when no longer serviceable. The black stripe down the trouser of a Trooper is worn in remembrance of fallen comrades. The purple color of their ties and hat bands represents an elite and are similar to those worn by the elite Praetorian Guard.^[4]

Ranks and Rank Insignia:

Trooper (no rank insignia)
Investigator (plainclothes)
Sergeant (3 chevrons)
Technical Sergeant (3 chevrons over 1 arc)
Sergeant Station Commander (3 chevrons over 2 arcs)
Zone Sergeant (3 chevrons over 3 arcs)
Senior Investigator (plainclothes)
First Sergeant (3 chevrons over 3 arcs with a Diamond in the center)
Staff Sergeant (3 chevrons over 3 arcs with a Quill in the center)
Chief Technical Sergeant (3 chevrons over 3 arcs with a Lightning Bolt in the center)
Technical Lieutenant (1 gold bar)
Lieutenant (1 silver bar)
Captain (2 silver bars)
Major (gold oak leaves)
Staff Inspector (plainclothes)
Assistant Deputy Superintendent/Lieutenant Colonel (silver oak leaves)
Deputy Superintendent/Colonel (silver eagles)
First Deputy Superintendent (1 silver star)
Superintendent (2 silver stars)

Chevrons are black on a gray background and are worn on the upper sleeves of both the shirt and the jacket. Rank insignia for Technical Lieutenant through Superintendent are worn on the collars of the shirt and the shoulders of the jacket.

Training

Recruits must complete a twenty-six week training academy prior to being confirmed as a Trooper. The residential school is located at the NYSP Academy in Albany, New York. Recruits must then complete 10 weeks post academy field training with a trained field training officer (FTO) holding the rank of trooper prior to permanent troop assignment.

Service pistols

Officers of the New York State Police are issued the Glock 37 as the service pistol. The New York State Police previously used the Glock 17 from 1989 to 2007. ^[5] The Glock 37 was chosen after the shooting death of Trooper Andrew Sperr in Chemung County on March 1, 2006. ^[6]