highway patrol

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is a state agency that acts as the state police force of California. It was originally created in 1929 as a highway patrol agency to ensure road safety in California but assumed greater responsibility as time went on. It now also provides security police services while it protects state buildings and facilities, conducts criminal investigations, and assists local law enforcement agencies. It is the largest State Police agency in the country with about 6800 sworn officers according to data provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Highway Patrol duties

The agency has specific jurisdiction over all California state routes, U.S. Highways and Interstate highways, and also serves as a statewide patrol force, especially in unincorporated and lightly populated areas of the state. Its officers enforce the provisions of the California Vehicle Code (especially the prohibition on 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, airplanes, and helicopters. 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 anything else that may be impeding the free flow of traffic. They are often the first government officials at the scene of an accident (or other obstruction), and in turn summon paramedics, tow truck drivers or Caltrans personnel as required.

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 him to slow or to stop. These are known as "round robins."

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 all suspected 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.

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 - Sunne Wright MacPeak
• 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 has no jurisdiction in Mexico.

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 coveralls. 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 multi-bubble 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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

Newhall Incident

The darkest day in the patrol's history was April 6, 1970, when 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). Two officers, Officers Frago and Gore, initially stopped men in a vehicle for brandishing a weapon. Before the officers could approach, they came under fire and both were killed. Two additional officers, Officers Pence and Alleyn, responding to the incident were fired upon before they could see either the downed officers or the suspects. The officers wounded one of the suspects but succumbed to their injuries. One of the suspects was caught in the ensuing search of the area, and the other suspect committed suicide.

The tragic loss 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.")

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.

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.
• In the 2006 thriller The Wicker Man, Nicolas Cage played a fictional officer of the California Highway Patrol.

See also

• List of contract law enforcement cities (US)

External links

• California Highway Patrol Official Website
• CHP Traffic Incident Information Page
• CHP Radio frequencies and tones in the Los Angeles, California area
• CHP Discussion Forum Website