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 20050H0158R1128 - 2 -
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 20050H0158R1128 - 3 -
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 20050H0158R1128 - 4 -
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 20050H0158R1128 - 5 -
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 20050H0158R1128 - 6 -
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 20050H0158R1128 - 7 -
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 20050H0158R1128 - 8 -
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 20050H0158R1128 - 9 -
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. B15L82BIL/20050H0158R1128 - 10 -