PRINTER'S NO. 1128
No. 158 Session of 2005
INTRODUCED BY MARSICO, ARGALL, ARMSTRONG, BAKER, BALDWIN,
BARRAR, BASTIAN, BEBKO-JONES, BELARDI, BELFANTI, BENNINGHOFF,
BISHOP, BLAUM, BOYD, BUXTON, CALTAGIRONE, CAPPELLI, CASORIO,
CAUSER, CAWLEY, CLYMER, CORRIGAN, CRAHALLA, CREIGHTON, CRUZ,
DALLY, DeLUCA, DENLINGER, DeWEESE, DiGIROLAMO, DIVEN,
DONATUCCI, ELLIS, J. EVANS, FAIRCHILD, FICHTER, FLEAGLE,
FLICK, FRANKEL, GEIST, GERBER, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GOOD,
GOODMAN, GRELL, GRUCELA, HANNA, HARHAI, HARPER, HARRIS,
HASAY, HENNESSEY, HERMAN, HERSHEY, HESS, HICKERNELL,
HUTCHINSON, JAMES, M. KELLER, W. KELLER, KENNEY, KILLION,
KOTIK, LEDERER, LEH, LEVDANSKY, MAJOR, MANDERINO, MANN,
MARKOSEK, McGEEHAN, McGILL, McILHATTAN, MELIO, R. MILLER,
S. MILLER, MUNDY, MUSTIO, NAILOR, O'NEILL, PALLONE, PAYNE,
PETRARCA, PETRI, PHILLIPS, PICKETT, PISTELLA, PRESTON,
QUIGLEY, RAPP, RAYMOND, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROBERTS, ROHRER,
ROSS, RUBLEY, SAINATO, SAMUELSON, SANTONI, SATHER, SCAVELLO,
SCHRODER, SEMMEL, SHANER, B. SMITH, S. H. SMITH, SOLOBAY,
STABACK, STAIRS, STERN, STETLER, R. STEVENSON, STURLA, SURRA,
TANGRETTI, E. Z. TAYLOR, THOMAS, TIGUE, TURZAI, WALKO,
WANSACZ, WATSON, WILT, WOJNAROSKI, YOUNGBLOOD, YUDICHAK AND
ZUG, MARCH 16, 2005
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MARCH 16, 2005
A RESOLUTION
1 Congratulating the Pennsylvania State Police on the occasion of
2 the 100th anniversary of its founding.
3 WHEREAS, In 1902, after President Theodore Roosevelt
4 intervened to end the Great Anthracite Strike, it was recognized
5 that peace and order should be maintained by regularly appointed
6 and responsible officers employed by the public; and
7 WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania State Police was created as an
8 executive department of State government by legislation, Senate
1 Bill 278, signed into law by Governor Samuel W. Pennypacker on
2 May 2, 1905; and
3 WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania State Police became the first
4 uniformed police organization of its kind in the United States;
5 and
6 WHEREAS, The original complement was limited by law to 228
7 men who were to patrol Pennsylvania's entire 45,000 square
8 miles; and
9 WHEREAS, The force was divided into four troops: Troop A
10 (Greensburg), Troop B (Wilkes-Barre), Troop C (Reading) and
11 Troop D (Punxsutawney); and
12 WHEREAS, On September 2, 1906, the first two State Policemen,
13 Private John F. Henry and Private Francis A. Zehringer, were
14 killed in the line of duty in Jefferson County; and
15 WHEREAS, In 1907 the State Police Superintendent dictated
16 that enlistments were only open to single men; and
17 WHEREAS, In January 1908 the State Police Superintendent
18 established weekly training programs in each troop, a technique
19 still used today; and
20 WHEREAS, On June 1, 1909, Troop C (Reading) was moved to
21 Pottsville and designated as a State Police training school; and
22 WHEREAS, On January 15, 1911, Troop D (Punxsutawney) was
23 moved to Butler County; and
24 WHEREAS, In 1911 the State Police Superintendent established
25 two-year enlistment periods; and
26 WHEREAS, On November 10, 1916, former President Theodore
27 Roosevelt praised the organization:
28 The Pennsylvania State Police is a model of efficiency, a
29 model of honesty, a model of absolute freedom from political
30 contamination...there is no other body so emphatically
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1 efficient for modern needs as the Pennsylvania State Police.
2 I have seen them at work. I know personally number of men in
3 ranks. I know some of the officers. I feel so strongly about
4 them that the mere fact a man is honorably discharged from
5 this Force would make me at once, and without hesitation,
6 employ him for any purpose needing courage, prowess, good
7 judgment, loyalty, and entire trustworthiness. This is a good
8 deal to say of any organization, and I say it without
9 qualification of the Pennsylvania Police;
10 and
11 WHEREAS, By 1919 the demand for additional State Police units
12 brought about the first increase in complement, authorizing a
13 maximum force of 415 men; and
14 WHEREAS, On July 1, 1919, the State Police established Troop
15 E (Lancaster); and
16 WHEREAS, The transfer of State Fire Marshal duties to the
17 State Police and the first motorcycle patrols to deal with the
18 growing number of motorists also occurred in 1919; and
19 WHEREAS, In 1920 a State Police training school was
20 established in Newville, Cumberland County, and the Bureau of
21 Criminal Identification and the Bureau of Fire Protection were
22 created; and
23 WHEREAS, In 1923 the State Highway Patrol was created within
24 the Department of Highways to enforce vehicle laws; and
25 WHEREAS, The State Police installed the nation's first
26 Statewide police radio telegraph system in 1923; and
27 WHEREAS, On March 1, 1923, the Newville Training School was
28 closed and replaced by a temporary school established at the
29 Pennsylvania National Guard Military Reservation at Mt. Gretna,
30 Lebanon County; and
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1 WHEREAS, In 1924 Troop C (Pottsville) was moved to Reading,
2 Troop E (Lancaster) was moved to Harrisburg, and a new State
3 Police Training School was established in Hershey; and
4 WHEREAS, In 1927 the State Police Superintendent established
5 the first two State Highway Patrol Troops, Troop A (Harrisburg)
6 and Troop B (Greensburg), and the State Police established a
7 public radio station in Harrisburg (WBAK) and issued a
8 regulation prohibiting any member from marrying without the
9 Superintendent's approval; and
10 WHEREAS, On June 1, 1928, the State Highway Patrol
11 established Troop C (Bellefonte); and
12 WHEREAS, On September 1, 1929, the State Highway Patrol
13 established Troop D (Williamsport); and
14 WHEREAS, In 1929 all State Police were required to memorize
15 the "Call of Honor," which is as follows:
16 I am a Pennsylvania State Trooper, a soldier of the law. To
17 me is entrusted the honor of the force. I must serve
18 honestly, faithfully, and if need be, lay down my life as
19 others have done before me, rather than swerve from the path
20 of duty. It is my duty to obey the law and to enforce it
21 without any consideration of class, color, creed or
22 condition. It is also my duty to be of service to anyone who
23 may be in danger or distress, and at all times so conduct
24 myself that the honor of the force may be upheld;
25 and
26 WHEREAS, In 1930 the State Police Superintendent established
27 a Headquarters Detective Division; and
28 WHEREAS, In 1931 Governor Gifford Pinchot formally dedicated
29 a new Highway Patrol Building in Harrisburg; and
30 WHEREAS, In 1932 the State Highway Patrol established Troop E
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1 (Philadelphia), and the State Police Superintendent established
2 a Criminal Intelligence Section, a Photographic Section and a
3 small Crime Laboratory Division; and
4 WHEREAS, In 1935 the State Highway Patrol established Troop F
5 (Franklin); and
6 WHEREAS, On June 29, 1937, the Highway Patrol was merged with
7 the State Police and the new department, called the Pennsylvania
8 Motor Police, was divided into four districts with district
9 headquarters established in Greensburg, Harrisburg, Wyoming and
10 Philadelphia; and
11 WHEREAS, Districts I and II consisted of Troop A
12 (Greensburg), Troop D (Butler), Troop E (Harrisburg), Troop F
13 (Franklin), Troop G (Hollidaysburg), Troop H (Greensburg) and
14 Troop I (Bellefonte), and Districts III and IV consisted of
15 Troop B (Wyoming), Troop C (Reading), Troop K (Kingston) and
16 Troop L (Philadelphia); and
17 WHEREAS, On August 11, 1938, the department was reorganized.
18 The First Squadron consisted of Troop A (Greensburg), Troop B
19 (Washington), Troop C (Punxsutawney), Troop D (Butler) and Troop
20 E (Erie). The Second Squadron consisted of Troop A (Harrisburg),
21 Troop B (Chambersburg), Troop C (Hollidaysburg), Troop D
22 (Williamsport) and Troop E (Harrisburg). Also, in 1938, a
23 Medical Unit and a Communications Division were created; and
24 WHEREAS, In June 1939 legislation was enacted that added to
25 the responsibilities of the Pennsylvania Motor Police the return
26 of escaped convicts and parole violators as well as the annual
27 inspection of school buses; and
28 WHEREAS, On October 1, 1940, Troop B (Chambersburg) was
29 dissolved and reestablished as a special patrol unit in Bedford
30 with the responsibility of patrolling the newly established
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1 Pennsylvania Turnpike System; and
2 WHEREAS, The former troop's duties were divided among Troop A
3 (Greensburg), Troop A (Harrisburg) and Troop C (Hollidaysburg);
4 and
5 WHEREAS, Act 52 of April 28, 1943, changed the name of the
6 organization from the Pennsylvania Motor Police to the
7 Pennsylvania State Police, and the department became responsible
8 for enforcing the Uniform Firearms Act; and
9 WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania State Police was assigned to assist
10 the Pennsylvania Aeronautics Commission in the investigation of
11 aircraft accidents and aircraft violations in 1945; and
12 WHEREAS, 1946 saw the first Statewide radio telephone system
13 installed and the elimination of "flag stops"; and
14 WHEREAS, In 1947 new laws authorized the Pennsylvania State
15 Police to assist the Department of Revenue in collecting the
16 State's cigarette tax and enforcing the fuel use tax; and
17 WHEREAS, In 1954 John R. Dudley, Jr., became the first black
18 member of the Pennsylvania State Police; and
19 WHEREAS, Act 360 of July 10, 1957, provided for a mandatory
20 retirement at 60 years of age, exclusive of the Commissioner and
21 Deputy Commissioner; and
22 WHEREAS, A new Pennsylvania State Police Academy in Hershey
23 opened on March 2, 1960; and
24 WHEREAS, On September 1, 1961, the Pennsylvania State Police
25 officially began radar speed checks; and
26 WHEREAS, On October 1, 1963, married men were permitted to
27 apply, and in that same year the Commissioner established a
28 Youth Aid Division; and
29 WHEREAS, All Troops dropped the district designation and were
30 alphabetically designated on January 1, 1965: Troop A
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1 (Greensburg), Troop B (Washington), Troop C (Punxsutawney),
2 Troop D (Butler), Troop E (Erie), Troop F (Montoursville), Troop
3 G (Hollidaysburg), Troop H (Harrisburg), Troop J (Lancaster),
4 Troop K (Philadelphia), Troop L (Reading), Troop M (Bethlehem),
5 Troop N (Hazleton), Troop P (Wyoming), Troop R (Dunmore) and
6 Troop T (Highspire); and
7 WHEREAS, The radio teletype system was computerized on June
8 1, 1965; and
9 WHEREAS, On October 5, 1967, a new law (Act 140) eliminated
10 the two-year enlistment process and provided for one enlistment
11 until discharge or retirement; and
12 WHEREAS, In November 1968 the State Police Aviation Division
13 was established; and
14 WHEREAS, A new Troop S, activated on September 1, 1970, was
15 given the responsibility of patrolling the interstate system;
16 and
17 WHEREAS, On October 1, 1971, the first female applicants were
18 accepted as cadets in the Pennsylvania State Police Academy; and
19 WHEREAS, Fourteen women graduated and were appointed as
20 Troopers in July 1972; and
21 WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania State Police received
22 responsibility for administering the Statewide Uniform Crime
23 Report on July 1, 1973; and
24 WHEREAS, In 1974 the Pennsylvania State Police received a new
25 radio communications system; and
26 WHEREAS, A new Pennsylvania State Police Department
27 Headquarters building was dedicated on September 12, 1978; and
28 WHEREAS, Two UH1B helicopters (Hueys) were put into service
29 in March 1979 for disaster rescues and emergency medical
30 transportation; and
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1 WHEREAS, In marking the department's 75th anniversary, a
2 memorial honoring persons killed in the line of duty was
3 dedicated at the Pennsylvania State Police Academy; and
4 WHEREAS, In October 1980, the Pennsylvania State Police
5 expanded the aviation division with the addition of a Cessna 182
6 Skylane fixed-wing aircraft to assist in the State Police Aerial
7 Reconnaissance Enforcement (SPARE) Program; and
8 WHEREAS, The department's Laboratory Division expanded in
9 October 1982 with the addition of a new laboratory in Lima,
10 Delaware County; and
11 WHEREAS, Pennsylvania Crime Watch was created in December
12 1982 in an effort to reduce crime; and
13 WHEREAS, In 1986 the following programs were established: the
14 Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers program, the Operation Whiteline
15 drug interdiction program and the Special Emergency Response
16 Team (SERT); and
17 WHEREAS, In 1986 a new radio communication system was
18 installed throughout this Commonwealth, allowing officers to
19 communicate with local police jurisdictions; and
20 WHEREAS, The enforcement of Pennsylvania's liquor laws was
21 transferred to the State Police in July 1987, and the Bureau of
22 Liquor Control Enforcement was established; and
23 WHEREAS, In August 1987 Ronald Sharpe became the first
24 African American to be appointed Commissioner of the
25 Pennsylvania State Police; and
26 WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania State Police responded to reports
27 of a major riot at the Camp Hill State Correctional Institution
28 on October 25, 1989; and
29 WHEREAS, By the time the prison was secured on October 27,
30 1989, nearly 1,200 Troopers had been involved in the security
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1 operation; and
2 WHEREAS, In April 1990, 50 Troopers were appointed as the
3 first members of the new Tactical Narcotics Team (TNT); and
4 WHEREAS, The Automated Fingerprint Identification System
5 (AFIS) also became operational in 1990; and
6 WHEREAS, In June 1992 two new Bureaus were created: the
7 Bureau of Drug Law Enforcement and the Bureau of Emergency and
8 Special Operations; and
9 WHEREAS, That same year saw the opening of the first law
10 enforcement DNA testing laboratory in Greensburg; and
11 WHEREAS, On July 31, 1993, the Pennsylvania State Police
12 became the largest accredited police agency in the world; and
13 WHEREAS, That same year, 34 full-time community service
14 officers were appointed throughout this Commonwealth; and
15 WHEREAS, In August 1995 the department formed a Ceremonial
16 Unit to standardize the response and appearance of members at
17 funerals and parades; and
18 WHEREAS, In April 1996 the use of video cameras in patrol
19 cars was authorized; and
20 WHEREAS, On July 12, 1996, Troop B (Pittsburgh) was closed;
21 and
22 WHEREAS, In February 1997 the department acquired the
23 Integrated Ballistics Identification System (IBIS) and developed
24 a new Cadet Qualifying Examination; and
25 WHEREAS, On May 17, 1997, Area V was realigned by
26 consolidating the interstate troop, Troop S, with and into
27 adjacent county Troop Commands; and
28 WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania State Police maintains a "Ten Most
29 Wanted Fugitive List"; and
30 WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania State Police has established a
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1 toll-free telephone number to allow members of the public to
2 contact it with information relative to Pennsylvania's Homeland
3 Security: to report a tip, call 1-888-292-1919; and
4 WHEREAS, Today the authorized complement of the Pennsylvania
5 State Police is 4,545 sworn members; and
6 WHEREAS, More than 1,600 civilians serve in a variety of
7 roles throughout the department; and
8 WHEREAS, The core purpose of the Pennsylvania State Police is
9 to seek justice, preserve peace and improve the quality of life
10 for all; and
11 WHEREAS, This organization is comprised of men and women who
12 help form the front line of homeland security and who risk their
13 lives every day to ensure the safety of the citizens of this
14 Commonwealth; therefore be it
15 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives congratulate the
16 Pennsylvania State Police on the occasion of the 100th
17 anniversary of its founding.
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