In 1917 (Chapter 161), New York State established a Department of State Police, headed by a superintendent appointed by the governor, to provide law enforcement in the rural areas of the State. The law establishing the department contained a limitation, that remains today, prohibiting the use of State Police within the limits of a city without specific order of the governor. The first contingent of troopers, chosen by the superintendent for two-year enlistments, was organized into four troops stationed at White Plains, Albany, Oneida, and Batavia, respectively. Following the reorganization of State government in 1925-26, the State Police was made a division of the Executive Department by a law of 1926 (Chapter 546). In 1935 (Chapter 697), the division received legislative authorization to operate a scientific laboratory and to organize the Bureau of Criminal Investigation as a separate investigative unit to handle serious or complicated cases. Beginning in 1938, appointments to the force have been permanent, rather than two-year enlistments. Chapter 169 of the Laws of 1994 instituted the requirement that the superintendent, who heads the division, be a member of the New York State Police. In 1996, based on enabling legislation enacted in 1994 (Chapter 737), the Division of State Police began administering, in cooperation with the Division of Criminal Justice Services, the State?s DNA Databank. Legislation passed that same year (Chapter 338) introduced requirements for prompt, electronic filing of information regarding felons remaining at large and outstanding arrest warrants in a statewide police information network administered by the Division of State Police. In 2000 (Chapter 189), a gun trafficking interdiction program was established within the Division of Criminal Justice Services. As part of the program, the Division of State Police was charged with implementing a strategy for the interdiction of guns illegally entering the State in substantial numbers from other States. The number of State Police officers has increased to over 4,000. They are organized into eleven troops located throughout the State.
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The Division of State Police is New York's principal police agency and has statewide authority to enforce the law and preserve the peace. The division provides police services in rural and suburban areas in particular. State Police officers patrol interstate, State, and secondary roads and provide special services in canine, scuba, and hazardous material operations. The division also enforces State vehicle weight and size regulations and is responsible for making the New York State Thruway safe for motorists by decreasing accidents and investigating crimes. Through its Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the division investigates serious and complex crimes relating in particular to organized crime, narcotics, and violent felons. The division also provides support to local and other State law enforcement agencies, including training, communications, data processing, record keeping, aviation support, and criminal laboratory services.
