State Police and Local Police?

[Nectar]

What are the true differences between State Police and Local Police. I have heard that State Policemen mainly deal with traffick. Is there a pay difference between the two, and does the state police conduct criminal investigations?

[wormy]

State Police do mainly deal with traffic on a patrol level. The locals have to go on calls; ie, domestics, someone ran over my dog and I want an investigation done, to someone stole my lawnmower. To answer your other question, yes, they do some criminal ivestigations.

[nj50]

this would mostly depend on your state. in TN they have "highway patrol" which work ONLY traffic violations on the interstate. they do minimal investigative work. sometimes participate in a task force or two. Then they have another state agency, the TBI handle the investigative side of the house. in NJ the have "state police" which is a combination of both. and handle a wide varity of police work, to include the primary agency in jurisdictions with no local police. that is very different as most states utilize a county department to handle that. any state agency with "patrol" in their name as opposed to "police" is usually gonna be just traffic. but that is not always that cut and dry. all state dependant.

[phuzz01]

In many states, a trooper's job description depends largely on where they are stationed. If the trooper's barracks is in an metropolitan area, they are more likely to do traffic enforcement, investigate accidents, and stick pretty close to the highway. If the barracks is in a rural area, they may be the primary patrol agency in towns with part-time or no local police department.

To me, one of the main advantages that a state trooper has over a local officer is that they have the opportunity to be independent and proactive. Since they are not tied down to the radio answering calls for service, they have the ability to go out and make their own work. Want to go fishing for DUIs? No problem. Want to write a million tickets? That's okay too. Want to go into a town and seek out drug dealers? In many states, that's fine. Of course, local law enforcement has its advantages as well.

I'm pretty sure that as a federal officer with the USPP, DCLaw gets a similar amount of independence (in fact, he gets to patrol two states and the D of C!). Maybe he can add some perspective to this one.

Lastly, as far as pay goes, it varies depending on the state. In general, I would say that troopers make an above average salary, but not as much as some of the wealthiest local jurisdictions in their state.

[nj50]

however in states that have a "highway patrol" you will barely ever see these officer working in a metro area answering calls. they are usually only for traffic

[FPS207]

The responses to the difference between state patrol and local police is correct. In my state we have the state patrol whose primary mission is traffic enforcement and traffic accidents. However troopers in rural areas assist an supplement local law enforcement and act as state police. The troopers in our state are miserably under paid. Almost every department in the Metro-Atlanta area start higher than a starting trooper salary.

[phuzz01]

however in states that have a "highway patrol" you will never see these officer working in a metro area answering calls.

Not true. The Missouri Highway Patrol and the California Highway Patrol are just two examples where troopers regularly respond to calls for service.

[nj50]

they may assist, but they are most likely not gonna have an open investigation on something unless it happens on the highway, or is like auto theft. another agency will handle it

[phuzz01]

Wrong again, nj50. Straight from the keyboard of a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper on your beloved 911jobforums site:

There are some "highway patrols" where the regular officer will work burglaries, thefts, and other crimes on a regular basis (Missouri for example)

Also, the California Highway Patrol merged with the California State Police in 1995. The new consolidated agency is called the California Highway Patrol, but it is a full service police agency. From the CHP's website:

A key element for consideration was maintenance of the current public safety services performed by the CSP while incorporating those services into the existing structure of the CHP.

[mcsap]

Our state police cover the interstates, the turnpike, and ANY municipality that does not have their own local PD. They handle all of the same calls we get, have detectives, drug ops etc.

We handle all of the calls in our 80 square mile area which also has a 3 1/2 mile section of the interstate. Although state is primary, we have authority on the "I ". Typically a MAryland car will go zooming past me ( I am in a marked unit) and think because I am local PD that I have no authority on the highway. They find out via citation that they are wrong

[nj50]

that happens alot in jersey cause for the most part county sheriffs have no patrol responsibilty, but can make stops if they want to. so people typically think they cant stop them, till they find out the hard way

Our state police cover the interstates, the turnpike, and ANY municipality that does not have their own local PD. They handle all of the same calls we get, have detectives, drug ops etc.

We handle all of the calls in our 80 square mile area which also has a 3 1/2 mile section of the interstate. Although state is primary, we have authority on the "I ". Typically a MAryland car will go zooming past me ( I am in a marked unit) and think because I am local PD that I have no authoity on the highway. They find out via citation that they are wrong

[phuzz01]

BTW, nj50, you'll notice that I edited my last post to add a section on the CHP, which is another example of a Highway Patrol that DOES in fact answer calls for service and open investigations.

[nj50]

sure there are some, but it is just a in general basis. just like in jersey there are generally no county patrols. but there are a few sheriffs depts who answer calls in time of need. but its no where near a city department. they just handle civil process and jails. its not like in florida where county down there is usually the primary agency

[phuzz01]

sure there are some, but it is just a in general basis.

Oh, I must have been confused by the phrases "you will never see these officer working in a metro area answering calls" and "they are never gonna have an open investigation on something unless it happens on the highway." :rolleyes:

[nj50]

hmmm i dont see those words anywheres. stop putting words into my mouth ;)