California Highway Patrol
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[edit] Highway Patrol duties
The agency has specific jurisdiction over all California state routes, U.S. Highways, Interstate highways and all public roads in unincorporated parts of a county. Local police or the local sheriff's department having a contract with an incorporated city have responsibility to investigate and enforce traffic laws in incorporated cities. However, the CHP can still enforce traffic laws on any public road anywhere in the state regardless if it is in an incorporated or unincorporated city.
Its officers enforce the California Vehicle Code (including laws against speeding), pursue fugitives spotted on the highways, and attend to all significant obstructions and accidents within their jurisdiction. They patrol in various vehicles including Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptors, Chevrolet Camaros, BMW R1150RT-P motorcycles, Cessna 206 airplanes, and helicopters which include Bell OH-58As, Bell 206L-IVs and Eurocopter AS-350B-3s. The CHP has a fleet of 73 Chevrolet Camaros, which are used for commercial vehicle patrols.
CHP officers are responsible for investigating and disposing of car accidents, debris, dead animals and other impediments to the free flow of traffic. They are often the first government officials at the scene of an accident (or obstruction), and in turn summon paramedics, tow truck drivers or Caltrans personnel. The CHP files traffic collision reports for state highways and within unincorporated areas.
CHP officers often run what are known as traffic breaks to enable other officers ahead to clean up accidents or obstructions safely. This is done by the officer activating his unit's rear or overhead flashing lights, waiting for surrounding traffic to drop back, and then swerving back and forth across all lanes of the freeway to gently force the traffic behind the officer to slow or stop. These are known as "round robins."
[edit] Special responsibilities
The CHP also publishes data on traffic accidents in California from a database called SWITRS (Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System).
After the September 11, 2001 attacks the CHP became responsible for securing and patrolling a number of potential terrorist targets in the State of California. These sites include the Bay Bridge, nuclear power plants, government buildings, and key infrastructure sites. They also maintain a SWAT team on 24 hour stand-by to respond to any terrorist activity.
In September 2005 the CHP sent resources to the Gulf Coast to assist in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Before the United States National Guard arrived, the CHP had four patrol helicopters over New Orleans, more than forty vehicles on the ground, and more than 200 officers and other staff, including a SWAT team, deployed in New Orleans.[citation needed]
One of the California Highway Patrol's additional responsibilities includes a governor protection detail.
[edit] Organization
The CHP is led by the Commissioner, who is appointed by the Governor of California. The Deputy Commissioner is also appointed by the Governor and the Assistant Commissioners are appointed by the Commissioner.
In 2004 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Mike Brown as CHP commissioner, succeeding Dwight O. "Spike" Helmick.
- Secretary of the Business, Transportation & Housing Agency - Dale E. Bonner
- Commissioner of the Highway Patrol - Michael L. Brown (Since 2004)
- Deputy Commissioner of the Highway Patrol - J.A. Farrow
- Office of Internal Affairs
- Office of Employee Relations
- Office of the Special Representative
- Office of Media Relations
- Assistant Commissioner, Field Operations - Arthur Anderson
- Northern Division
- Valley Division
- Golden Gate Division
- Central Division
- Southern Division
- Border Division
- Coastal Division
- Inland Division
- Protective Services Division
- Office of Air Operations
- State Terrorism Threat Assessment Center
- Assistant Commissioner, Staff Operations - K.P. Green
- Administrative Services Division
- Departmental Training Division
- Information Management Division
- Enforcement Services Division
- Personnel Management Division
- Planning & Analysis Division
The CHP has a unit called the Mexico Liaison Unit, which consists of six officers and a sergeant, all of whom are fluent in Spanish. It is part of the Border Division. The purpose of this unit is to work with Mexican authorities to locate and recover stolen US vehicles in Mexico, identify the thieves and ensure their prosecution in California or Mexico, and to provide assistance to Mexican authorities. The CHP, however, has no jurisdiction in Mexico.
[edit] Traditions
CHP uniforms are traditionally khaki-colored with campaign hat and blue and gold trouser stripe. The dress uniform includes a green jacket and bright blue tie (motorcycle officers wear a bow tie), and cold weather and utility uniforms are dark blue BDU's. Standard patrol vehicles are required by state law to be painted black with white doors and roof, with a replica of the CHP badge on the sides and the words HIGHWAY PATROL on the back. Special low profile Chevrolet Camaros joined the CHP fleet in 2002. Painted white and sporting a thin, flat LED light bar, rather than the traditional seven-pod Federal Signal Vision unit, these pursuit cars were designated for enforcement of trucking laws, but are also used for general patrol duties.
The California Highway Patrol is one of the few organizations to continue to use the older toll-free "Zenith 1-2000" number. With the falling cost of telephone area code 800, 888 etc. numbers, most organizations have chosen to switch to one of the newer numbers and discontinue use of the Zenith service which requires operator assistance.
Like any statewide law enforcement agency, the CHP has developed certain colorful traditions such as its own system of radio codes widely adopted by local agencies. The most important is 11-99 (officer needs emergency assistance or officer down).
In 1981, a charitable foundation (the 11-99 Foundation) was founded to provide benefits and scholarships to officers and their families.
[edit] Code of Honor
The CHP has a code of honor. It states:
I, a member of the California Highway Patrol, subscribe in word and deed to the following:
"To serve the United States of America and the State of California honestly, and conscientiously; and fulfill my oath as a soldier of the law;
To uphold and maintain the honor and integrity of the California Highway Patrol;
Be loyal to my fellow officers; respect and obey my seniors in rank; and enforce the law without fear, favor, or discrimination;
Assist those in peril or distress, and, if necessary, lay down my life rather than swerve from the path of duty;
My personal conduct shall at all times be above reproach and I will never knowingly commit any act that will in any way bring discredit upon the California Highway Patrol or any member thereof;
To all of this I do solemnly pledge my sacred honor as an Officer of the California Highway Patrol."
[edit] Fallen Officers
Since its formation in 1929 more than 200 CHP Officers have been killed in the line of duty. The 3 most common causes of line of duty deaths to date are (in order): Automobile/Motorcycle Accidents; Gunfire; Vehicular Assault (i.e., struck by drunk driver, reckless driving or otherwise impaired drivers).
The CHP suffered a loss of six officers between September 2005 and February 2006, making that one of the worst periods in CHP history.
1. Officer David Romero: September 23, 2005
Officer Romero was killed in a traffic accident in Industry, California. He was struck by a car driven by a person who was under the influence of narcotics. The driver was convicted of second degree murder (gross negligence) and was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.
2. Officer Andy Stevens: November 17, 2005
Officer Stevens was shot and killed during a traffic stop on a county road near Woodland, California. The suspect fled the scene and was arrested the next day in Placer County, California.
3. Officer Erick Manny: December 21, 2005
Officer Manny was killed while pursuing a vehicle travelling 100mph, near Lebec, California. Officer Manny's patrol car ran off the road and overturned, killing him. The suspect that Officer Manny was pursuing is still at large.
4. Lt. Michael Walker: December 31, 2005
Lt. Walker was struck and killed by a car on rain-soaked Highway 17 near Santa Cruz, California while at the scene of an accident.
5. Officer Earl Scott: February 17, 2006
Officer Scott was shot and killed during a traffic stop in Ripon, California. The suspect fled the scene and later surrendered in Stockton, California. The suspect was known to have an extensive criminal record.
6. Officer Gregory John Bailey: February 25, 2006
Officer Bailey was struck and killed by a drunk driver while on a traffic stop in Hesperia, California.
[edit] Newhall Incident
On April 6, 1970, four CHP officers, Officers James Pence, Roger Gore, Walt Frago, and George Alleyn, were gunned down in less than five minutes in Newhall, California (CHP History) during the course of a traffic stop of two heavily armed career criminals. Two of the officers, Frago and Gore, made the initial stop of the vehicle for brandishing a weapon. When the officers began to search the suspects they were fired upon and killed. Almost immediately thereafter, the two responding backup officers, Pence and Alleyn, arrived at the scene and were fired upon before they could see either the downed officers or the suspects. The officers managed to wound one of the suspects before being shot and killed. One of the suspects was caught in the ensuing search of the area, and the other suspect committed suicide. The suspect was convicted and was sentenced to death in the gas chamber, but was changed to life in prison. He is currently imprisoned in Pelican Bay State Prison in Crescent City, California.
The incident at Newhall led to major reforms in training procedures, firearms use, and arrest techniques. The Newhall Incident has since become an important part of the training of all law enforcement officers. It was the beginning of the term "officer safety" (i.e. "You will train how you will fight as you will fight how you train.")
[edit] Mergers
On July 12, 1995, the California State Police, which was a separate agency, was merged into the CHP, thus greatly expanding the agency's mandate. In addition to safety on the state highway system, it is now responsible for the safety of all elected state officials and all people who work in or are utilizing a state building in California, such as the State Capitol Building in Sacramento.
It has also been discussed to merge the Law Enforcement Division of the California Department of Fish and Game into the CHP adding to the nick name of "Fish and Chips". By doing so, this would allow for better protection of California's environment and natural resources. The understaffed DFG has not been able to offer the people of California an effective law enforcement staff of Game Wardens also known as Conservation Police Officers for the last twenty years due to poor staffing, funding, and management;a similar idea is already in place in Oregon, where the Oregon State Police serve as "de facto" game wardens as well.
[edit] Media references
- CHiPs was a fictional television drama show of the 1970s about the CHP, and the CHP also helped out in the 1955 TV show Highway Patrol starring Broderick Crawford. Also the CHiPs TV series was made into a modern telemovie called CHiPs '99.
[edit] Duty Weapons
The current standard issue firearm for CHP officers is the Smith & Wesson Model 4006 TSW in .40 S&W. Each CHP patrol car is equipped with a Remington 870 Police 12-gauge shotgun and a Colt AR-15A2 in .223.
[edit] Patrol Cars
The current patrol vehicle is the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor.
[edit] See also
| California Portal |
[edit] Articles
[edit] Book
Crane, Bob, California Association of Highway Patrolmen Golden Chronicle 1920-1970, (Sacramento, California: California Association of Highway Patrolmen, 1970).
[edit] External links
- California Highway Patrol Official Website
- CHP Traffic Incident Information Page
- CHP Discussion Forum Website
- The 11-99 Foundation
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