The Kentucky Highway Patrol was founded in 1936 when the Division of Highway Patrol was created as a part of the Kentucky State Highway Department.
The Highway Patrol began with 40 officers who enforced
traffic laws on
Kentucky roads.
By 1948 the Kentucky Highway Patrol had 200 officers.
The 1939-40 ''Police Blue Book'' published by the
International Association of Chiefs of Police listed 146 employees, 56 patrol cars, and 21 motorcycles for the Kentucky Highway Patrol.
On July 1, 1948, the Kentucky Highway Patrol was abolished due to the passage of the State Police Act, which was promoted by
Governor Earle C. Clements. The Kentucky Highway Patrol was replaced by the
Kentucky State Police
The Kentucky State Police (KSP) is a department of the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, and the official State Police force of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, responsible for statewide law enforcement. The department was founded in 194 ...
, a new agency whose officers had full
police powers, not limited to traffic laws.
The new Kentucky State Police inherited the officers and equipment of the Kentucky Highway Patrol.
Fallen officers
Six officers died in the line of duty during the Kentucky Highway Patrol's 12-year history.
See also
*
List of law enforcement agencies in Kentucky
*
State police
State police, provincial police or regional police are a type of sub-national territorial police force found in nations organized as federations, typically in North America, South Asia, and Oceania. These forces typically have jurisdiction o ...
*
State patrol
*
Highway patrol
References
External links
Official Website for the Kentucky State Police
Defunct law enforcement agencies of Kentucky
Government agencies established in 1936
Road law enforcement agencies
Transportation in Kentucky
1936 establishments in Kentucky
1948 disestablishments in Kentucky
Government agencies disestablished in 1948
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