Senate Approves Robbins Resolution Celebrating 100th Anniversary of State Police

- Audio of Senator Robbins on Senate Floor

Harrisburg – The state Senate today approved a resolution sponsored by Senator Bob Robbins (R-50) congratulating the Pennsylvania State Police on its 100th anniversary.

The Pennsylvania State Police became the nation's first uniformed police organization of its kind with the enactment of legislation on May 2nd, 1905.

Robbins noted that the State Police was born out of the coal strikes, when it became clear that the Commonwealth needed trained, public officers to keep peace and order--not security forces hired by private companies.

Their early years focused on Criminal Identification, Fire Investigations and --to deal with the growing popularity of automobiles--the Highway Patrol. Later would come Aviation Divisions, Criminal Laboratory Divisions, Drug Interdiction and the Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement. More recently, the State Police have been given the responsibility of forming the front line of the Commonwealth's homeland security.

"Pennsylvania State Troopers have answered the call to duty, day in and day out. Many smaller communities without police departments look to State Police to perform primary patrol duties," said Robbins, speaking on the Senate floor.

The State Police became the largest accredited police agency in the world in 1993 and today has a statewide complement of more than 5,700 enlisted and civilian employees serving in a variety of roles.

Since 1929, all State Police have been required to memorize the "Call of Honor," which reads, in part:

"I am a Pennsylvania State Trooper, a soldier of the law. To me is entrusted the honor of the force. I must serve honestly, faithfully, and if need be, lay down my life as others have done before me, rather than swerve from the path of duty."

"It is our duty in the legislature to support our state troopers and recognize their vast contributions--the ones I mentioned today, and the many that occur every day with little or no notice," said Robbins.

CONTACT: Nate Silcox (717) 787-1322