 |
California
Highway Patrol
Celebrating 75 Years of Service
On August 14, 1929, the California Highway Patrol was created through
an act of the Legislature. The new law gave Statewide authority
to the Highway Patrol to enforce traffic laws on county and State
highways -- a responsibility which remains in effect today, along
with many additional functions undreamed of in 1929.
The primary mission of the California Highway Patrol is "the management
and regulation of traffic to achieve safe, lawful, and efficient
use of the highway transportation system." As a major statewide
law enforcement agency, the secondary mission of the Department
is to assist in emergencies exceeding local capabilities. The CHP
also provides disaster and lifesaving assistance.
During its first ten years, the Patrol successfully grew into a
highly respected, effective traffic safety force of 730 uniformed
personnel. After World War II, the legislature decided to consolidate
and reorganize the Patrol's enforcement and administrative responsibilities.
In October 1947, the Department of the California Highway Patrol
was established and the position of commissioner was created to
head the new Department.
The span of enforcement responsibility has expanded dramatically
and the CHP has continued to grow and change. Today's responsibilities
include truck and bus inspections, air operations (both airplanes
and helicopters) and vehicle theft investigation and prevention.
The 1995 merger with the California State Police also increased
the areas of responsibility to include protection of state property
and employees, the Governor and other dignitaries.
In addition to its enforcement responsibilities, the Department
has taken a leadership role in educating the public concerning driver
safety issues. The CHP has received state and national recognition
for its innovative public awareness campaigns promoting use of safety
belts, a Designated Driver when drinking, securing small children
in safety seats and wearing motorcycle and bicycle helmets.
CHP officers are highly trained, sworn Peace Officers with statewide
jurisdiction. In fact, General Order 0.1 specifies the secondary
mission of the CHP as " ... in its role as a major statewide law
enforcement agency, supports local law enforcement and stands ready
to assist in emergencies exceeding local capabilities."
Local law enforcement agencies in several California communities
were being overwhelmed by an armed, highly concentrated criminal
element and, at best, were only able to respond in a reactionary
fashion to the most serious crimes. The situation was so alarming
that officials from these communities contacted Governor Pete Wilson
for assistance. The need for a greater uniformed presence was apparent
and the Governor responded by directing the CHP to provide these
beleaguered communities with law enforcement aid.
The commitment of CHP resources provided an added law enforcement
presence in these communities and allowed local agencies to direct
their resources toward suppression of major crimes. The success
of the Community Assistance Programs initiated in 1992 paved the
way for additional assistance programs to target high crime areas.
In 1995, the CHP expanded the program and provided the following
communities with personnel and resources to support local law enforcement
agencies.
MISSION STATEMENT AND ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES
The mission of the California Highway Patrol is to provide the highest
level of safety, service, and security to the people of California,
and to assist governmental agencies during emergencies when requested.
To accomplish our mission, the CHP is committed to the following
organizational values as the foundation of our pledge to public
safety and service:
Respect for others
Fairness
Ethical
practices
Equitable
treatment for all |
Message
from Commissioner D.O. Helmick
A law enforcement agency that doesn't change, doesn't improve.
The California Highway Patrol made some significant changes
during 2002 that make US, I believe, a better department.
The highlight of 2002 was the successful launch of the Amber
Alert Program, the statewide network for recovering abducted
children. Every child reported as an Amber Alert case, 21 children
in 17 incidents, was recovered unharmed. Success has continued
into 2003.
Amber Alert has been the most gratifying effort of my 30-plus
years with the CHP. It turns the entire state into a Neighborhood
Watch program as we work together to recover vulnerable children.
Everyone from Gov. Gray Davis to the beat officer and the clerk
in the neighborhood convenience store has helped make Amber
Alert a success. Another important Amber Alert partner has been
the broadcast industry, which has flashed instant information
to its listeners and viewers.
The year saw other changes. The CHP's new commercial truck corridor
programs reduced crashes involving big rigs. The Designated
Driver effort greatly expanded its DUI prevention programs at
college and professional sports events.
And the department is further defining its role as California's
lead agency in homeland security. We added two surplus military
vehicles to our SWAT team's equipment inventory to assist us
in emergency situations.
Other homeland security efforts include adding officers to our
commercial inspection facilities so they can be staffed around
the clock to check the safety of trucks and drivers. We also
trained teams of officers and bomb-sniffing dogs for the inspection
facilities to detect explosives and hazardous materials.
While the year saw many changes, I can assure you that one thing
stayed the same - the CHP's commitment to keep California motorists
safe on the highways.
Commissioner D.O. Helmick |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Click here for more information about the:
California
Highway Patrol
Click here to read about CHP's
Fallen Heroes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
