New York State Police

George Fletcher Chandler, the first Superintendent of the New York State Police

The State of New York did not establish a state police force until the early twentieth century. In part this reflected the pattern of settlement across a wide frontier. A number of proposals to create such a force during the early 1900s, but faced considerable opposition from trade union interests. They feared the police would be used against union organizing, as was happening in several other states.[3]

Following the 1913 murder of Sam Howell, a construction foreman in Westchester County, and failure of the local police to arrest suspects he had named before his death, the New York State Legislature passed a bill to establish a state police force. The New York State Police was officially established on April 11, 1917.

The division's first superintendent was George Fletcher Chandler, who was appointed by Governor Charles S. Whitman. Chandler is credited with much of the division's early organization and development. Chandler coined the term "New York State Troopers." He was an early advocate of officers carrying their weapons exposed on a belt, which was not common practice at the time.

On January 1, 1980, the Long Island State Parkway Police merged with the state police; this resulted in the official establishment of Troop L. In October 1997, the New York State Capital Police was consolidated and absorbed into the state police. As of late, there has been political debate concerning the New York State Park Police merging with the New York State Police.[4] On December 3, 2019, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the New York State Park Police will merge with the New York State Police. The merger is expected to take about six months.[5]

The New York State Police is also responsible for protecting the Governor of New York and the Lieutenant Governor of New York.

The New York State Police is one of only five state police agencies in the United States, that as of 2019, does not equip its state police vehicles with dashboard cameras. New York State Troopers have not been supplied with body cameras, either. Both tools have been significant in clearing police in wrongful use of force cases.[6]

The New York State Police is headed by the Superintendent of the State Police, who is nominated by the Governor of New York and confirmed by the New York State Senate. The Superintendent of State Police commands more than 5,000 troopers, investigators and civilian support staff who help provide a full range of policing and public safety services to New Yorkers on behalf of the New York State Police.

List of superintendents:

1. George Fletcher Chandler, May 1, 1917 – December 1, 1923
2. John Adams Warner, December 1, 1923 – December 21, 1943
3. John Aloysius Gaffney, December 22, 1943 – August 15, 1953
4. Albin Severin Johnson, August 16, 1953 – January 24, 1955
5. Francis Simpson McGarvey, January 24, 1955 – February 8, 1961
6. Arthur Cornelius Jr., February 9, 1961 – August 4, 1967
7. William Edward Kirwan Jr., August 5, 1967 – June 25, 1975
8. William Gerard Connelie, July 2, 1975 – July 31, 1983
9. Donald Osborn Chesworth Jr., August 1, 1983 – November 30, 1986
10. Thomas A. Constantine, January 2, 1987 – March 21, 1994
11. James W. McMahon, April 4, 1994 – August 20, 2003
12. Wayne E. Bennett, September 16, 2003 – February 26, 2007
13. Harry J. Corbitt, April 16, 2008 – March 3, 2010
14. Joseph A. D'Amico, January 31, 2011 – June 9, 2016
15. George P. Beach II, June 9, 2016 – January 16, 2019
16. Keith M. Corlett, June 4, 2019 – present (Acting: January 16, 2019 – June 4, 2019)

Trooper uniforms are made of grey wool, with the exception of the Gore-Tex jacket. Prior to 1958, uniforms (shirts, jackets and britches) were woven of equal parts white fiber and black fiber to symbolize the impartiality of justice. The NYSP is one of only five state police forces who do not wear a badge on their uniform shirts.[12] Like a U.S. flag, trooper uniforms are burned when no longer serviceable. The black stripe down the leg of the trouser represents remembrance of fallen comrades. The purple color of the tie and hat band represents an elite unit. Troopers wear a tan felt Stetson hat with a leather security strap and purple band around it.[13]

Rank insignia

Title	Insignia
Superintendent
First Deputy Superintendent
Deputy Superintendent/Colonel
Assistant Deputy Superintendent/Lieutenant Colonel
Staff Inspector
Major
Captain
Lieutenant
Technical Lieutenant
Chief Technical Sergeant
Staff Sergeant
First Sergeant
Senior Investigator (plainclothes)	No insignia
Zone Sergeant
Sergeant Station Commander
Technical Sergeant
Sergeant
Investigator (plainclothes)	No insignia
Trooper	No insignia

Chevrons are black on a gray background and are worn on the upper sleeves of both the shirt and the jacket. Rank insignia for Technical Lieutenant through Superintendent are worn on the collars of the shirt and the shoulder loops of the Gore-Tex jacket.

Recruits must complete a 26-week training academy prior to being appointed as a state trooper. The residential school is located at the New York State Police Academy in the capital, Albany, New York. Recruits must then complete 10 weeks post academy field training with a trained field training officer (FTO) holding the rank of trooper prior to permanent troop assignment.

As of January 2018, New York State Troopers are issued the Glock 21 Gen 4 (.45 ACP) as their service pistol. New York State Troopers previously used the Glock 37 (.45 GAP) from 2007 to 2018. The New York State Police used the Glock 17 (9mm) from 1990 to 2007, the Glock 17 replaced the Smith & Wesson Model 686 (NYSP issued the Model 681).[15] The Glock 37 was adopted after the shooting death of Trooper Andrew Sperr in Chemung County on March 1, 2006, which led to the call for a heavier round with more stopping power. But this has cost a loss in magazine capacity from 17 to 10 bullets. The Glock 37 was chosen because it retains the .45 caliber ballistics but in the trimmer Glock 17 frame more suitable for a range of hand size. In addition, New York State Troopers are also armed with Remington 870 patrol shotguns and Rock River Arms AR-15 "LAR-15 Tactical Entry Model" semi-automatic patrol rifles.

Effective Spring 2011, New York State Troopers were trained and issued tasers for patrol purposes. The tasers were donated by the NYS Trooper Foundation to give Troopers, who almost always patrol alone, an alternative to deadly force to subdue combatants.

The State Police's vehicle fleet is primarily made up of Ford Explorer and Dodge Charger vehicles. These are slowly replacing the Crown Victorias that the State Police previously used as its primary patrol car. The fleet also uses for routine patrol Chevrolet Caprice, Ford Expeditions, and Chevrolet Tahoes. All marked cars are painted dark blue with yellow reflective decals.

A Ford CVPI from Troop NYC

Vehicles in the Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement program (CITE) are unmarked. This program uses Ford Explorer and Chevrolet Tahoe vehicles.

The New York State Police has three Bell 407 single engine utility helicopters, six Bell 430 twin engine helicopters, three Bell UH-1 “HUEY 2” Single engine utility helicopters and one UH-1H “HUEY 1” Single engine utility helicopter. Their other aircraft are two Cessna 206 Stationair Single engine airplanes, one Cessna 172 Single engine airplane, one Partenavia 68 Twin engine observation airplane, one Sikorsky 76 (used for transporting the governor), and two Beech King Air twin engine turboprop airplanes. All of these aircraft operate under the call sign “GreyRider”.[16]

New York State Police Helicopter parked at a helipad in New York City 2020

• New York State Police Troop C scandal
• List of law enforcement agencies in New York
• New York State University Police
• State Police (United States)
• Highway Patrol

• New York State Police website
  • In-depth NYSP history
• New York State Police in the New York Codes, Rules and Regulations
• NYSP Recruitment Center website
• Union representing Troopers and Supervisors
• Union representing Investigators
• "New York State Police collected news and commentary". The New York Times.

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