| Agencyname: | Pennsylvania State Police |
| Abbreviation: | PSP |
| Patch: | Pennsylvania State Police.png |
| Patchcaption: | Patch of Pennsylvania State Police |
| Logocaption: | Wordmark of the Pennsylvania State Police |
| Preceding1: | Pennsylvania State Constabulary Pennsylvania State Constables (1905–1937) |
| Preceding2: | State Highway Patrol (1923–1937) |
| Preceding3: | Pennsylvania Motor Police (1937–1943) |
| Country: | United States |
| Countryabbr: | U.S. |
| Divtype: | Commonwealth |
| Divname: | Pennsylvania |
| Map: | PA - State Police Troops.png |
| Sizearea: | 46,055 sq mi |
| Sizepopulation: | 12,972,008 (2022)[1] |
| Police: | Yes |
| Headquarters: | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania |
| Sworntype: | Troopers |
| Sworn: | 4,740 (as of 2023)[2] |
| Unsworntype: | Civilian employees |
| Unsworn: | 1,850 (as of 2015) |
| Chief1name: | Colonel Christopher Paris |
| Chief1position: | Commissioner |
| Unittype: | Area |
| Unitname: | 4 |
| Officetype: | Troop |
| Officename: | 16 |
| Stationtype: | Station |
| Stations: | 90 |
| Airbases: | 6 |
| Boat1type: | Helicopter |
| Boats1: | 6 Bell 407GX |
| Aircraft1type: | Airplane |
| Aircraft1: | 2 "High Wings" |
| Website: | Pennsylvania State Police website |
The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) is the state police agency of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, responsible for statewide law enforcement. The Pennsylvania State Police is a full service law enforcement agency which handles both traffic and criminal law enforcement. The Pennsylvania State Police was founded in 1905 by order of Governor Samuel Pennypacker, by signing Senate Bill 278 on May 2, 1905. The bill was signed in response to the Great Anthracite Strike of 1902. Leading up to the Anthracite Strike, private police forces (the coal and iron police) were used by mine and mill owners to stop worker strikes. The inability or refusal of local police or sheriffs' offices to enforce the law directly influenced the signing of Bill 278. The Anthracite Strike lasted from May 15 to October 23, 1902, and was ended with the help of Theodore Roosevelt, the sitting president at the time.
PSP enlisted members are referred to as "Troopers". Up until 1963, married men were not allowed to apply to the state police, and active troopers had to seek permission from their superior officer to get married. As of 2021, the state police has approximately 4,547 State Troopers and more than 1,850 civilian support staff.[3]
In 1924, a State Police training academy was built in Hershey, Pennsylvania, on Cocoa Avenue. The site was located at the Hershey Inn and it remained at this location until 1960 when it was moved to 175 Hersheypark Drive, Hershey, Pennsylvania. The current location is fitted with kennels, stables and a range, among other facilities, and is located only a few miles from the original site. Once accepted into the Pennsylvania State Police Academy cadets endure a rigorous 28-week training period.[4] Cadets live at the academy in barracks style quarters and are only permitted to go home on designated weekends. Cadets who fail to complete physical training in required times or who show any other type of deficiencies may be restricted from going home. While attending training, cadets are put on an 18-month probationary period and can be dismissed at any point in their training by the commissioner under any form of incompetence, inefficiency, or general violation of rules and regulations.[5] The current drop-out rate for new recruits in the academy is approximately 20 percent per class.
Under Pennsylvania law, a municipality may choose to have the state police act as its local law enforcement, and the municipality does not have to pay any fees to do so. Unlike other states, Pennsylvania does not use county sheriff's offices to patrol areas without local police, and so the PSP covers areas without local police departments. 1,287 municipalities in the state used the PSP as their only local law enforcement.[6] The full PSP municipalities that have a population of 10,000 or below combined have about 17% of the total number of people in Pennsylvania; these municipalities make up about 50% of the total municipalities in the state.[7] In 2019, about 66% of the municipalities in the state had PSP as the sole law enforcement or had a part-time police force combined with PSP.[8] all areas in the following counties use PSP as their local law enforcement (either fully, or with part-time police departments): Cameron, Forest, Fulton, Juniata, Potter, Sullivan, Susquehanna, and Wyoming.[6]
The PSP owns and operates a myriad of facilities to conduct law enforcement operations across the Commonwealth.
The following is the breakdown:
| County | Troop | Station | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adams | H | Gettysburg | |
| Allegheny | B | Pittsburgh | |
| Allegheny | T | Gibsonia | |
| Allegheny | T | Jefferson Hills | |
| Armstrong | D | Kittanning | |
| Beaver | D | Beaver | |
| Bedford | G | Bedford | |
| Bedford | T | Everett | |
| Berks | L | Reading | |
| Berks | L | Hamburg | |
| Blair | G | Hollidaysburg | |
| Bradford | P | Towanda | |
| Bucks | M | Trevose | |
| Bucks | M | Dublin | |
| Butler | D | Butler | |
| Cambria | A | Ebensburg | |
| Cameron | F | Emporium | |
| Carbon | T | Pocono | |
| Carbon | N | Lehighton | |
| Centre | G | Rockview | |
| Chester | J | Avondale | |
| Chester | J | Embreeville | |
| Clarion | C | Clarion | |
| Clearfield | C | Clearfield | |
| Clearfield | C | DuBois | |
| Clinton | F | Lamar | |
| Columbia | N | Bloomsburg | |
| Crawford | E | Meadville | |
| Cumberland | H | Carlisle | |
| Cumberland | T | Newville | |
| Dauphin | T | Highspire | |
| Dauphin | H | Harrisburg | |
| Dauphin | H | Lykens | |
| Delaware | K | Media | |
| Elk | C | Ridgway | |
| Erie | E | Erie | |
| Erie | E | Corry | |
| Erie | E | Girard | |
| Fayette | B | Uniontown | |
| Forest | C | Marienville | |
| Franklin | H | Chambersburg | |
| Fulton | G | McConnellsburg | |
| Greene | B | Waynesburg | |
| Huntingdon | G | Huntingdon | |
| Indiana | A | Indiana | |
| Jefferson | C | Punxsutawney | |
| Lackawanna | R | Dunmore | |
| Lancaster | T | Bowmansville | |
| Lancaster | J | Lancaster | |
| Lawrence | D | New Castle | |
| Lebanon | L | Jonestown | |
| Lehigh | M | Fogelsville | |
| Lehigh | M | Bethlehem | |
| Luzerne | N | Hazleton | |
| Luzerne | P | Shickshinny | |
| Luzerne | P | Wyoming | |
| Lycoming | F | Montoursville | |
| McKean | C | Lewis Run | |
| Mercer | D | Mercer | |
| Mifflin | G | Lewistown | |
| Monroe | N | Stroudsburg | |
| Monroe | N | Fern Ridge | |
| Montgomery | T | King of Prussia | |
| Montgomery | K | Skippack | |
| Northampton | M | Belfast | |
| Northumberland | F | Stonington | |
| Northumberland | F | Milton | |
| Perry | H | Newport | |
| Philadelphia | K | Philadelphia | |
| Pike | R | Blooming Grove | |
| Potter | F | Coudersport | |
| Schuylkill | L | Schuylkill Haven | |
| Schuylkill | L | Frackville | |
| Snyder | F | Selinsgrove | |
| Somerset | A | Somerset | |
| Somerset | T | Somerset | |
| Sullivan | P | Laporte | |
| Susquehanna | R | Gibson | |
| Tioga | F | Mansfield | |
| Union | F | Milton | |
| Venango | E | Franklin | |
| Warren | E | Warren | |
| Washington | B | Washington | |
| Wayne | R | Honesdale | |
| Westmoreland | A | Greensburg | |
| Westmoreland | B | Belle Vernon | |
| Westmoreland | T | New Stanton | |
| Westmoreland | A | Kiski Valley | |
| Wyoming | P | Tunkhannock | |
| York | J | York |
The PSP also has many bureaus and subdivisions within the organization.This is by no means a complete list, merely a sampling of the breakdown.
The uniform worn by PSP troopers is unique within Pennsylvania. In January 1988, the State Police changed the color of its uniforms. PSP troopers wore dark grey uniforms that confused them with some municipal police departments and Pennsylvania State Constables. By state law, no municipal (city, borough, or township) police department can wear the same exact uniform or color configuration as that of the PSP.
The current PSP uniform for troopers, corporals, and sergeants consists of a light gray uniform shirt with black shoulder epaulets. The PSP shoulder patch is worn on both sleeves of all uniform items. The PSP members are issued long sleeve shirts for the winter and short sleeve shirts for summer. However, PSP requires the black necktie to be worn year round. The uniform shirt consist of the trooper's nameplate over the right pocket and any awards the trooper has earned over the left pocket. The PSP is one of only five state police forces that do not wear a badge on their uniform shirts.[9] The original PSP uniform was modeled after the Constabulary forces in Europe and they did not have badges. It is history and tradition for troopers today to carry their badges in a wallet along with their photo ID card. The uniform trousers are a darker gray color with a one-inch-wide black stripe on the leg. PSP shoes and/or boots are also black in color.
The PSP duty belt is plain black leather. The duty holster is the level-2 model. The ammo pouch and handcuff case have hidden snap closure. The OC pepper spray and ASP baton holders are open top. The duty belt is held together with the trousers belt using four silver snap belt keepers.
The PSP trademark item is the campaign-style hat with the chin strap worn in the front under the chin on the winter campaign hat (as opposed to most agencies that wear the strap of the campaign hat behind the head). The hat contains a blackened commonwealth coat of arms. It is required to be worn whenever the trooper is outdoors. It is made of dark gray felt (for wintertime wear) or light gray straw (for summertime wear). The strap of the summer hat is worn behind the head.
The Class "A" Ceremonial Unit troopers wear a "full dress" uniform which is a charcoal gray military-style dress coat with black buttons. It is worn with matching charcoal gray military-style riding breeches and black high-rider leather boots. The duty belt is worn with the shoulder strap. This uniform is modeled after the original PSP history uniform.
The uniforms for PSP Lieutenants, Captains, Majors, Lieutenant Colonels, and the Colonel are identical to that of the lower ranks, except for the following:
In addition to the minor detail changes, senior officers wear the four-button military coat for "Class A" functions. The coat has four gold-colored buttons, breast and hip pockets, and shoulder epaulets for the placement of the officer's current rank. A white shirt is worn with a black tie underneath. A system of "rank rings" are worn on each sleeve, similar to the rank-ring system used by the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and by land units of the Canadian Forces. Currently, the insignia worn by PSP senior officers are as follows:
| Title | Insignia | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|
| Commissioner (Rank of Colonel) | The Commissioner of the Pennsylvania state Police holds the Rank of Colonel. The Commissioner is the Commander of the Pennsylvania state Police | |
| Deputy Commissioner (Rank of Lieutenant Colonel) | The Deputy Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police holds the Rank of Lieutenant Colonel. The Deputy Commissioner is Second-In Command of the Pennsylvania state Police. | |
| Major | Majors are in charge of an Area, such as Area III, encompassing several Troops. | |
| Captain | Captains are in charge of a Troop, such as Troop B, encompassing several Stations. | |
| Lieutenant | Lieutenants are in charge of a Station, such as Station 1 (located in Troop B which is located in Area III). | |
| Sergeant | Sergeants are Station Commanders, Supervisor of a unit, section, or specialty position. | |
| Corporal | Corporals are Supervisors of Troopers, overseeing the patrol's daily calls for service. | |
| Trooper First Class | This is a longevity promotion for Troopers with 12 years of service. | |
| Trooper | Upon graduation from the Pennsylvania State Police Academy, cadets are promoted to the rank of Trooper. | |
| State Police Cadet | A State Police Cadet is a Commonwealth employee who is enrolled in but has not yet graduated from the Pennsylvania State Police Academy. | |
The department currently operates a mixed fleet of vehicles including the new law enforcement specific Ford Taurus, Ford Explorer, Dodge Durango and Dodge Charger. The PSP also owns and operates numerous helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.[10] PSP operates watercraft mainly on the Delaware River and Lake Erie.
The PSP Aviation Section consists of thirty-five trooper pilots and three full-time mechanics, using six law enforcement specific Bell 407GX helicopters and six airplanes statewide. These aircraft are stationed in six aviation patrol units (APU).
The Pennsylvania State Police utilizes the Walther PDP (Service Pistol) is a 9×19mm Parabellum semi-automatic pistol designed in 2021 by Walther Arms as a replacement for the Walther PPQ. Additionally, the Sig Sauer P227 .45 ACP is still being utilized until it is completely transitioned out. Other firearms include the Colt AR-15 (including the LE6920 and LE6940), 12-gauge shotguns (including the Remington 870 pump), and gas grenade launcher.[11]
The current less-lethal weapons the PSP is utilizing consist of Electroshock weapon technology,[12] pepper spray (OC), and expandable ASP straight batons.
The Pennsylvania State Police is the largest internationally accredited law enforcement agency in the world. This distinction was awarded to the Pennsylvania State Police on July 31, 1993, by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), an independent, non-profit organization based in Fairfax, Virginia.[13]
Accreditation is a process used by professional law enforcement agencies to facilitate the creation, verification and maintenance of high-quality policies and procedures, via voluntary compliance with performance standards. CALEA's 446 standards address nine major law enforcement topics: role, responsibilities, and relationships with other agencies; organization, management, and administration; personnel structure; personnel process; operations; operational support; traffic operations; prisoner and court-related services; and auxiliary and technical services.[14]
Key
| Name | Rank | Badge Number | Tenure | End of Watch | Age | Cause of Death | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John F. Henry | Private | — | 8 months | September 2, 1906 | 31 | Gunfire | |
| Francis A. Zehringer | Private | — | 8 months | September 2, 1906 | 34 | Gunfire | |
| Timothy Kelleher | Private | — | 1 year, 8 months | September 14, 1907 | 29 | Stabbed | |
| Mark A. Prynn | Sergeant | — | 3 years, 2 months | February 9, 1909 | 29 | Gunfire (Accidental) | |
| John Garscia | Private | — | 3 years, 3 months | February 21, 1909 | 35 | Gunfire (Accidental) | |
| John L. Williams | Private | — | 2 years | August 22, 1909 | 29 | Gunfire | |
| John C. "Jack" Smith | Private | — | 7 months | August 23, 1909 | 24 | Gunfire | |
| Robert V. Myers | Private | — | 1 year, 1 month | March 28, 1913 | 22 | Gunfire (Accidental) | |
| Andrew W. Czap | Private | — | 8 months | April 28, 1918 | 24 | Gunfire | |
| John F. Dargus | Private | — | 8 months | May 31, 1918 | 21 | Gunfire | |
| Chester A. Kuhns | Private | — | 2 years | October 6, 1918 | 29 | Spanish Influenza | |
| Joseph B. Malloy | Private | — | 2 years | October 9, 1918 | 24 | Spanish Influenza | |
| Zoe A. Remaly | Sergeant | — | 9 years | October 15, 1918 | 35 | Spanish Influenza | |
| George E. Higgins | Private | — | 3 months | October 20, 1918 | 26 | Spanish Influenza | |
| Joseph R. Brown | Private | — | — | October 22, 1918 | 29 | Spanish Influenza | |
| Edward C. Jackson | Private | — | 2 years | October 23, 1918 | 27 | Spanish Influenza | |
| John P. McLaughlin | Private | — | 1 years, 5 months | October 24, 1918 | 34 | Spanish Influenza | |
| James A. Walsh | Private | — | — | December 15, 1918 | 25 | Spanish Influenza | |
| Stanley W. Christ | Private | — | 1 month | December 1, 1919 | 22 | Animal related | |
| Benjamin F. McEvoy | Corporal | — | 13 years, 3 months | September 21, 1923 | 40 | Struck by vehicle | |
| William J. Omlor | Private | — | 4 years, 4 months | October 25, 1923 | 29 | Motorcycle accident | |
| Francis L. Haley | Private | 2551 | 5 months | October 14, 1924 | 25 | Gunfire | |
| Edwin F. Haas | Sergeant | — | 14 years | October 17, 1924 | 35 | Gunfire (Accidental) | |
| Bernard S. C. McElroy | Private | — | 1 year, 11 months | December 21, 1924 | 25 | Motorcycle accident | |
| Bertram Beech | Private | — | 1 year, 7 months | December 10, 1925 | 28 | Struck by train | |
| Claude F. Keesey | Private | — | 1 year, 4 months | January 4, 1927 | 23 | Automobile accident | |
| Martin A. Hanahoe | Patrolman | — | 1 year, 1 month | February 27, 1927 | 24 | Vehicular assault | SHP |
| Thomas E. Lipka | Private | — | 1 year, 8 months | April 3, 1927 | 25 | Automobile accident | |
| John M. Thomas | Sergeant | — | 1 month | May 8, 1927 | 43 | Automobile accident | |
| John J. Downey | Private | 2853 | 3 years, 2 months | August 22, 1927 | 31 | Gunfire | |
| Vincent A. Hassen | Corporal | — | 1 year | December 27, 1927 | 24 | Motorcycle accident | SHP |
| Sharon C. Wible | Patrolman | — | 6 months | February 6, 1928 | 22 | Motorcycle accident | SHP |
| Andrew W. Miller | Patrolman | — | 7 months | April 1, 1928 | 21 | Motorcycle accident | SHP |
| James F. "Jay" Proof | Patrolman | — | 1 year, 6 months | August 29, 1928 | 30 | Vehicle pursuit | SHP |
| Russell T. Swanson | Patrolman | — | 1 year, 6 months | April 19, 1929 | 22 | Gunfire | SHP |
| Wells C. Hammond | Patrolman | — | 10 months | October 14, 1929 | 24 | Motorcycle accident | SHP |
| Brady C. Paul | Corporal | — | 3 years, 11 months | December 27, 1929 | 26 | Gunfire | SHP |
| Thomas E. Lawry | Corporal | — | 3 years, 4 months | January 31, 1930 | 24 | Vehicular assault | SHP |
| Arthur A. Koppenhaver | Patrolman | — | 1 year | July 13, 1930 | 22 | Motorcycle accident | SHP |
| Charles L. Stewart | Private | — | 1 year, 1 month | July 18, 1930 | 22 | Gunfire | |
| Thomas B. Elder | Patrolman | — | 2 years | March 22, 1931 | 28 | Vehicular assault | SHP |
| Timothy G. McCarthy | Sergeant | — | 11 years, 8 months | May 12, 1931 | 42 | Gunfire | |
| Orville A. Mohring | Patrolman | — | 2 years, 6 months | December 11, 1931 | 24 | Vehicular assault | SHP |
| Joseph A. Conrad | Patrolman | — | 1 year, 11 months | September 6, 1932 | 26 | Motorcycle accident | SHP |
| Charles E. Householder | Patrolman | — | 5 years, 3 months | August 20, 1933 | 27 | Vehicular assault | SHP |
| Herbert P. Brantlinger | Patrolman | — | 1 year, 8 months | September 3, 1933 | 27 | Gunfire | SHP |
| James A. Seerey | First Sergeant | 1760 | 14 years, 7 months | September 10, 1934 | 42 | Animal related | |
| Floyd W. Maderia | Private | — | 4 years, 7 months | December 11, 1934 | 34 | Automobile accident | |
| Joseph L. Fulton | Corporal | — | 7 years, 8 months | June 4, 1936 | 32 | Motorcycle accident | SHP |
| Joe B. Champion | Sergeant | — | 11 years, 9 months | July 15, 1936 | 36 | Automobile accident | SHP |
| J. Lee Clarke | Patrolman | — | 3 years, 1 month | March 1, 1937 | 32 | Motorcycle accident | SHP |
| John E. Fessler | Private | — | 4 years, 1 month | April 23, 1937 | 32 | Gunfire | |
| Joseph A. Hoffer | Private | — | 7 years, 7 months | April 27, 1937 | 29 | Gunfire | |
| John J. Broski | Private | 1385 | 19 years, 7 months | August 14, 1937 | 40 | Gunfire | |
| John D. Simoson | Patrolman | — | 1 year, 7 months | December 1, 1937 | 23 | Motorcycle accident | |
| Joseph M. Williams | Private | — | 6 months | October 8, 1938 | 26 | Struck by vehicle | |
| Charles H. Craven | Private | — | 8 years | October 11, 1938 | 32 | Struck by vehicle | |
| George D. Naughton | Corporal | — | 12 years, 2 months | January 30, 1939 | 40 | Gunfire | |
| Frederick J. Sutton | Private | — | 2 years, 4 months | January 3, 1940 | 26 | Gunfire | |
| George J. Yashur | Private | — | 3 years, 2 months | April 1, 1940 | 24 | Struck by vehicle | |
| Thomas P. Carey | Private | — | 6 years, 1 month | June 17, 1941 | 31 | Exposure to toxins | |
| Dean N. Zeigler | Private | — | 1 year | October 17, 1942 | 24 | Automobile accident | |
| John A. Ditkosky | Private | — | 3 years, 2 months | July 24, 1950 | 27 | Automobile accident | |
| Floyd B. Clouse | Private | — | 7 years, 3 months | November 2, 1953 | 29 | Gunfire | |
| Joseph F. McMillen | Private | — | 3 years, 11 months | May 13, 1956 | 26 | Automobile accident | |
| Philip C. Melley | Trooper | — | 19 years, 11 months | November 3, 1957 | 41 | Gunfire | |
| Charles S. Stanski | Trooper | — | 4 years | January 17, 1958 | 29 | Vehicle pursuit | |
| Edward Mackiw | Trooper | — | 8 years, 7 months | May 31, 1958 | 32 | Struck by vehicle | |
| Stephen R. Gyurke | Trooper | 606 | 3 years, 10 months | August 24, 1958 | 29 | Struck by vehicle | |
| Francis M. Tessitore | Trooper | — | 6 years, 10 months | August 5, 1960 | 28 | Struck by vehicle | |
| Anthony Bensch | Trooper | — | 20 years | October 3, 1961 | 43 | Automobile accident | |
| Edward W. Gundel | Sergeant | — | 24 years, 6 months | March 18, 1962 | 45 | Gunfire | |
| Richard G. Barnhart | Trooper | — | 12 years, 8 months | August 8, 1964 | 37 | Vehicle pursuit | |
| Gary R. Rosenberger | Trooper | — | 1 year, 6 months | December 12, 1970 | 26 | Gunfire | |
| John S. Valent | Corporal | 1003 | 25 years, 10 months | December 9, 1971 | 49 | Gunfire | |
| Robert D. Lapp Jr. | Trooper | — | 8 years, 1 month | October 16, 1972 | 30 | Gunfire | |
| Bruce C. Rankin | Trooper | — | 2 years, 2 months | April 25, 1973 | 25 | Automobile accident | |
| Ross E. Snowden | Trooper | — | 3 years, 9 months | January 17, 1974 | 33 | Aircraft accident | |
| Leo M. Koscelnick | Corporal | — | 7 years, 3 months | August 15, 1977 | 33 | Vehicular assault | |
| Joseph J. Welsch | Trooper | — | 4 years, 7 months | September 13, 1977 | 26 | Gunfire | |
| Wayne C. Ebert | Trooper | — | 27 years, 9 months | June 7, 1978 | 50 | Struck by vehicle | |
| Albert J. Izzo | Trooper | — | 7 years, 11 months | June 13, 1979 | 35 | Gunfire | |
| David D. Monahan | Trooper | — | 8 years, 11 months | April 17, 1980 | 38 | Vehicular assault | |
| Herbert A. Wirfel | Trooper | — | 20 years, 5 months | February 7, 1982 | 45 | Automobile accident | |
| William R. Evans | Trooper | — | 16 years, 3 months | January 6, 1983 | 44 | Vehicle pursuit | |
| Frank J. Bowen | Trooper | — | 2 years, 10 months | October 26, 1983 | 27 | Automobile accident | |
| Gary W. Fisher | Trooper | — | 4 years, 1 month | February 3, 1985 | 26 | Gunfire | |
| John J. Brown | Trooper | 1290 | 14 years, 7 months | February 14, 1985 | 37 | Struck by vehicle | |
| Roark H. Ross | Trooper | 4099 | 13 years, 3 months | May 15, 1986 | 35 | Automobile accident | |
| Clinton W. Crawford | Trooper | — | 6 years, 6 months | August 17, 1987 | 30 | Struck by vehicle | |
| John A. Andrulewicz | Trooper | — | 23 years, 7 months | May 9, 1988 | 45 | Automobile accident | |
| Paul I. Almer | Corporal | — | 14 years, 1 month | April 12, 1989 | 39 | Aircraft accident | |
| Wayne D. Bilheimer | Trooper | — | 21 years, 3 months | April 12, 1989 | 44 | Aircraft accident | |
| Arthur L. Hershey | Sergeant | — | 27 years, 8 months | January 3, 1999 | 51 | Struck by vehicle | |
| Matthew R. Bond | Trooper | — | 4 years, 3 months | January 14, 2000 | 28 | Automobile accident | |
| Tod C. Kelly | Trooper | — | 16 years, 4 months | November 7, 2001 | 43 | Struck by vehicle | |
| Joseph J. Sepp Jr. | Trooper | 6672 | 10 years, 8 months | November 10, 2002 | 34 | Gunfire | |
| Brian A. Patterson | Trooper | 7273 | 9 years, 4 months | February 14, 2003 | 36 | Electrocuted | |
| Joseph R. Pokorny Jr. | Corporal | 4648 | 22 years, 5 months | December 12, 2005 | 45 | Gunfire | |
| Joshua D. Miller | Trooper | 8819 | 10 years, 9 months | June 7, 2009 | 34 | Gunfire | |
| Paul G. Richey | Trooper | 7201 | 16 years, 7 months | January 13, 2010 | 40 | Gunfire | |
| Blake T. Coble | Trooper First Class | 5504 | 24 years, 9 months | October 4, 2012 | 47 | Automobile accident | |
| Bryon K. Dickson, II | Corporal | 10714 | 7 years, 3 months | September 12, 2014 | 38 | Gunfire (terrorist attack) | |
| David Kedra | Trooper | 12115 | 2 years, 3 months | September 30, 2014 | 26 | Gunfire (Accidental) | |
| Landon E. Weaver | Trooper | 13093 | 1 year, 16 days | December 30, 2016 | 23 | Gunfire | |
| Michael P. Stewart, III | Trooper | 12494 | 3 years, 6 months | July 14, 2017 | 26 | Automobile accident | |
| Donald C. Brackett | Trooper | — | 17 years, 9 months | May 18, 2019 | 58 | Training related | |
| Dung X. Martinez | Trooper | 8533 | 20 years, 7 months | October 21, 2021 | 57 | COVID-19 exposure | |
| Branden T. Sisca | Trooper | 14430 | 1 year, 1 month | March 21, 2022 | 29 | Struck by vehicle | |
| Martin F. Mack, III | Trooper | 12764 | 7 years, 4 months | March 21, 2022 | 33 | Struck by vehicle | |
| Jacques F. Rougeau Jr. | Trooper | 14376 | 2 years, 11 months | June 17, 2023 | 29 | Gunfire |
The following is a chronological listings of commissioners of the Pennsylvania State Police:
| [15] | Name | Term in Office | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Col. John C. Groome | – February 28, 1920 | First state police superintendent, appointed by Governor Pennypacker | |
| - | Cpt. George F. Lumb | Served as acting superintendent briefly | ||
| 2 | Major Lynn G. Adams | – February 28, 1937 | Adams created the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information (BCI&I) and named Captain Wilson C. Price to serve as the bureau's first chief.[16] | |
| - | Office vacant | – June 29, 1937 | Office remained vacant for four months following the retirement of Adams | |
| Superintendents of the Pennsylvania State Highway Patrol | ||||
| 1 | Cpt. Wilson C. Price | – April 13, 1936 | First highway patrol superintendent, appointed by Governor Pinchot | |
| - | Deputy Supt. Philip J. Dorr | Served as acting superintendent briefly | ||
| - | Lt. Earl J. Henry | Served as acting superintendent briefly | ||
| 2 | Cpt. Charles H. Quarles | – February 28, 1937 | Resigned in protest of the merging of the two departments[17] | |
| - | Lt. Earl J. Henry | – June 29, 1937 | Served as acting superintendent following the resignation of Quarles | |
| Commissioners of the Pennsylvania Motor Police | ||||
| 1 | Col. Percy W. Foote | – January 25, 1939 | First motor police commissioner, appointed by Governor Earle | |
| - | Lt. Col. Cecil M. Wilhelm | – May 31, 1939 | Served as acting commissioner following the retirement of Foote | |
| 2 | Col. Lynn G. Adams | – January 20, 1943 | In 1939, Col. Adams moved the horses which were stabled at 20th and Herr Street to the Hershey Training School[18] | |
| 3 | Col. Cecil M. Wilhelm | – June 1, 1943 | Following the department's renaming in 1943, Wilhelm became the first state police commissioner | |
| Commissioners of the Pennsylvania State Police | ||||
| 4 | Col. Cecil M. Wilhelm | – March 28, 1955 | First state police commissioner, appointed by Governor Martin | |
| 5 | Col. Earl J. Henry | – February 26, 1959 | Henry abolished the use of the "squadron" label in favor of "district" and changed the title of "squadron commander" to "district inspector"[19] | |
| 6 | Col. Frank G. McCartney | – January 29, 1963 | McCartney changed the name from "Pennsylvania State Police Training School" to "Pennsylvania State Police Academy"[20] | |
| 7 | Col. E. Wilson Purdy | – April 8, 1966 | In 1963, Purdy introduced a five-day work week for the first time in State Police History.Purdy also for the first time in State Police history allowed married men to apply for cadet training[21] | |
| - | Lt. Col. Paul A. Rittelmann | – January 17, 1967 | Served as acting commissioner following the retirement of Purdy | |
| 8 | Col. Frank McKetta | – January 25, 1971 | Appointed by Governor Shafer, previously led the Federal Protective Service | |
| 9 | Col. Rocco P. Urella | – January 2, 1973 | Permitted the enlistment of female troopers in 1971[22] | |
| 10 | Col. James D. Barger | – February 15, 1977 | Began construction of the new state police headquarters[23] | |
| 11 | Col. Paul J. Chylak | – March 1, 1979 | Chylak initiated the State Police Aerial Reconnaissance and Enforcement, also known as (S.P.A.RE.)[24] | |
| 12 | Daniel F. Dunn | – May 16, 1984 | In June 1980, Dunn made the .357 Ruger, a stainless steel, four inch barrel revolver, the new standard sidearm[25] | |
| - | Lt. Col. Cyril J. Laffey | – December 1, 1984 | Served as acting commissioner following the death of Dunn | |
| - | Lt. Col. Nicholas Dellarciprete | – March 6, 1985 | Served as acting commissioner following the resignation of Laffey | |
| 13 | Col. Jay Cochran Jr.[26] | – January 30, 1987 | Under Cochran's leadership, the agency developed new uniforms, a new shoulder patch, and multiple offices were renamed[27] | |
| 14 | Col. John K. Schafer | – August 3, 1987 | Schafer served as commissioner for only a brief period due to an unfortunate illness which resulted in his death in August 1987[28] | |
| 15 | Col. Ronald M. Sharpe | – April 23, 1991 | First African American to hold the position of commissioner, appointed by Governor Casey[29] [30] | |
| 16 | Col. Glenn A. Walp | – January 17, 1995 | Under the leadership of Walp, on July 31, 1993, the Pennsylvania State Police became the largest accredited police agency in the world. The department had to comply with 773 professional police standards[31] | |
| - | Maj. James B. Hazen | – February 15, 1995 | Served as acting commissioner following the retirement of Walp | |
| 17 | Col. Paul J. Evanko | – March 24, 2003 | Appointed by Governors Ridge and Schweiker | |
| 18 | Col. Jeffrey B. Miller | – August 8, 2008 | Promoted from Major, appointed by Governor Rendell | |
| - | Lt. Col. Frank E. Pawlowski | – October 7, 2008 | Served as acting commissioner following the resignation of Miller. Confirmed as Commissioner by the senate on October 7, 2008[32] [33] | |
| 19 | Col. Frank E. Pawlowski | – January 7, 2011 | Promoted from Lieutenant Colonel, appointed by Governor Rendell | |
| - | Francis Noonan | – April 12, 2011 | Served as acting commissioner following the retirement of Pawlowski. Confirmed as Commissioner by the senate on April 12, 2011 | |
| 20 | Col. Francis Noonan | – August 3, 2015 | Former FBI Agent, appointed by Governor Corbett | |
| - | Col. Marcus Brown | – December 9, 2015 | Failed to be confirmed by the senate, appointed by Governor Wolf[34] | |
| 21 | Col. Tyree C. Blocker | – March 23, 2018 | Former PSP Major, appointed by Governor Wolf | |
| - | Lt. Col. Robert Evanchick | – June 4, 2019 | Served as acting commissioner following the retirement of Blocker. Confirmed as Commissioner by the senate on June 4, 2019 | |
| 22 | Col. Robert Evanchick | – January 19, 2023 | Former Deputy Commissioner of Operations, appointed by Governor Wolf | |
| - | Maj. Christopher L. Paris | – March 9, 2023 | Served as acting commissioner following the retirement of Evanchick.[35] Confirmed as Commissioner by the senate on March 9, 2023[36] | |
| 23 | Col. Christopher L. Paris | [37] – present | Former PSP Major, appointed by Governor Shapiro | |
Trooper Joshua Burney from the Lewis Run barracks in McKean county was charged with DUI while on duty after a colleague noticed he smelled of alcohol and had red, glossed over eyes. Trooper Burney was taken back to the barracks where preliminary field sobriety tests and a breath test showed signs of impairment. A blood draw test showed his blood alcohol content to be .086. A review of the dash camera footage from his cruiser showed he was unable to maintain his lane of travel several times during his response to an emergency call in Mount Jewett Borough.
Both troopers were suspended without pay pending to outcome of their cases. Trooper Burney was the second trooper to be charged with DUI on duty within 4 months along with Trooper Ravel. Both were on the job for the PA State Police for less than 2 years. Trooper Ravel graduated from the academy in June 2020, and Trooper Burney graduated August 2021.
2023
Trooper Michael J. Brown stationed at the Mansfield barracks was charged with vehicular homicide. An investigation into a crash indicated he attempted to pass a vehicle illegally across the double yellow lines on U.S. Route 6 in Sullivan Township in February. As a result, Brown's vehicle, a Jeep Grand Cherokee, struck an oncoming GMC Acadia, killing the driver, 47-year-old Christine Woodward.
Pa. trooper involved in crash that killed Troy teacher charged with vehicular homicide