 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2012) |
| Pennsylvania State Police | |
|---|---|
 Patch of Pennsylvania State Police | |
 Wordmark of the Pennsylvania State Police | |
| Abbreviation | PSP |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | May 2, 1905 |
| Preceding agencies |
|
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction | Pennsylvania, U.S. |
 | |
| Pennsylvania State Police Troops | |
| Size | 46,055 sq mi |
| Population | 12,972,008 (2022)[1] |
| General nature | |
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania |
| Troopers | 4,740 (as of 2023)[2] |
| Civilian employees | 1,850 (as of 2015)[2] |
| Agency executive |
|
| Areas | 4 |
| Troops | 16 |
| Facilities | |
| Stations | 90 |
| Airbases | 6 |
| Helicopters | 6 Bell 407GX |
| Airplanes | 2 "High Wings" |
| Website | |
| Pennsylvania State Police website | |
The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) is the state police agency of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, responsible for statewide law enforcement. The Pennsylvania State Police is a full service law enforcement agency which handles both traffic and criminal law enforcement. The Pennsylvania State Police was founded in 1905 by order of Governor Samuel Pennypacker, by signing Senate Bill 278 on May 2, 1905. The bill was signed in response to the Great Anthracite Strike of 1902. Leading up to the Anthracite Strike, private police forces (the coal and iron police) were used by mine and mill owners to stop worker strikes. The inability or refusal of local police or sheriffs' offices to enforce the law directly influenced the signing of Bill 278. The Anthracite Strike lasted from May 15 to October 23, 1902, and was ended with the help of Theodore Roosevelt, the sitting president at the time.
PSP enlisted members are referred to as "Troopers". Up until 1963, married men were not allowed to apply to the state police, and active troopers had to seek permission from their superior officer to get married. As of 2021, the state police has approximately 4,547 State Troopers and more than 1,850 civilian support staff.[3]
- ^ "QuickFacts: Pennsylvania". U.S. Census Bureau. July 1, 2022. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
- ^ a b "Pennsylvania State Police Appropriation Hearings 2022-23 Budget Request".
- ^ "About the Pennsylvania State Police". Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Retrieved 12-08-2014.