Massachusetts State Police

The Massachusetts State Police is the largest law enforcement agency in New England. At present, it has 2,187 troopers, 1,500 of them being uniformed troopers, and 540 civilian support staff. In November 2019, Superintendent Gilpin announced her retirement as head of the Massachusetts State police after two years in the position.

About Massachusetts State Police in brief

Summary Massachusetts State PoliceThe Massachusetts State Police is the largest law enforcement agency in New England. The MSP was established by Governor John A. Andrew when he signed a law creating the State Constabulary on May 16, 1865. The first leader of the State Police was William Sterling King, an American officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. At present, it has 2,187 troopers, 1,500 of them being uniformed troopers, and 540 civilian support staff. It investigates instances of wrongful deaths in most Massachusetts cities. In November 2019, Superintendent Gilpin announced her retirement as head of the Massachusetts State police after two years in the position. The history of the agency is preserved at the Massachusetts state Police Museum and Learning Center in Grafton. Since the MSP’s inception, 32 troopers have been killed in the line of duty. The earliest death was in 1909 and the latest death was March 16, 2016. As of 2011 troopers have started carrying the Smith & Wesson M&P pistol in. 45 ACP. Prior troopers carried the SIG Sauer P226 DAK in. 40 S&W, prior to those the agency issued the SIG Sauer P226 in 9mm from the early 1990s. In 1992, the former Massachusetts Department of Public Safety – Division of State Police, Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles Police, and Massachusetts Capitol Police,  departments merged to form what is currently known as the Department of State police. The distinctive uniform and seal of the former Division of state Police would be retained by the newly formed Department ofState Police. The ranks of corporal and staff sergeant were not carried over into the new agency.

The rank of Major and Lieutenant Colonel are appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Deputy Superintendent holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. The Troop headquarters are located in Danvers, and there are 70 municipalities located in the commonwealth. The A Troop Headquarters is located in Boston, with the headquarters located in Charlestown, and the headquarters in Framingham, Massachusetts. There are 70 municipal police stations located in commonwealth towns and cities. There is no state police station in the city of Boston. The Massachusetts Environmental Police remained a separate entity under the Department. of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Environmental Law Enforcement, until it became a separate department-level office under the re-organised Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. As of late, there has been political debate concerning the state police merging with the MBTA Transit Police. The rank to the ranks of Sergeant, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, and Captain are based on years of service, based on varying combinations of test scores, and based on performance on boards. An individual must already have attained the rank. of Detective Lieutenant and Detective Lieutenant prior to being appointed to beingappointed to the rank of Detective Captain; an individual must have already have already been appointed to be a Detective Lieutenant or Detective Captain. The highest ranking officer is the Lieutenant Colonel Colonel.