Massachusetts State Police
The Massachusetts State Police is an agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, responsible for law enforcement and vehicle regulation across the state. The MSP is known in the common local vernacular as The Staties, whose officers are referred to as Staties. As of 2024, it has 2,500 sworn troopers and 611 civilian support staff for a total of 3,111 personnel, making it the largest law enforcement agency in New England. The MSP is headed by Colonel Geoffrey Noble, the first colonel to not come from State Police ranks.
History
The MSP was established by Massachusetts state governor John A. Andrew when he signed a law creating the State Constabulary on May 16, 1865. This legislative act to "establish a State Police Force" founded the first statewide enforcement agency in the nation. The first leader of the State Police was William Sterling King, an American officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The agency remained small and rather informal until 1921, when the MSP was enlarged to comprise 50 officers stationed in barracks across the state with the primary mission of providing law enforcement to rural areas underserved by existing local police agencies. This law enforcement mission was performed by the trooper on horseback, usually, and in motor cars in areas with upgraded roads. The MSP enlarged its mission to handle primary vehicular regulation on the Commonwealth's interstate and limited-access highways after their development mid-century; during this period, it also established a presence in protecting Logan International Airport.For much of the 20th century, the MSP was organized along military lines with a heavy emphasis on the role of the barracks, spartan working conditions, and a uniformity in appearance and internal culture. Until recently, the MSP maintained one of the strictest regimens for physical size requirements for applicants. Efforts are being made presently to render the department more racially diverse, as well as more inclusive of women and LGBT troopers.
Since its inception, 47 officers from the Massachusetts State Police and its former agencies which made up its ranks have been killed in the line of duty. The earliest death was in 1909 and the latest death was March 3, 2022.
In November 2019, Superintendent Gilpin announced her retirement as colonel of the Massachusetts State police after two years in the position.
Firearms
During the 1960s and 1970s, the MSP issued the Walther PPK as a special assignment weapon.During the 1980s, the.357 Magnum Smith & Wesson Model 65 was issued to the troopers. Different weapons were issued for off-duty and special assignments. Prior to 1986, they were issued two Smith & Wesson Model 65 revolvers, one with a 4 inch barrel for on duty wear, and one with a 3 inch barrel for off duty wear, they were required to wear a 3 inch barreled revolver even if they were at the beach in a bathing suit. They were required at the time to carry two weapons at all times, because they were considered one duty 24/7. From 1986 and on, the new off duty weapon was the.38 Special Smith & Wesson Bodyguard revolver.
The agency issued the SIG Sauer P226 in 9mm from the early 1990s, followed by the SIG Sauer P226 DAK in.40 S&W.
In 2011, troopers started carrying the Smith & Wesson M&P pistol in.45 ACP.
As of 2023, the MSP is replacing the.45 ACP handguns with the SIG Sauer P320 chambered in 9mm. The P320 comes equipped with a Romeo1 red-dot optic and a Night Stick 550XL flashlight attached. The P320 is also set on the X-Series frame.
Museum
The history of the agency is preserved at the Massachusetts State Police Museum and Learning Center in Whitinsville. The museum was made possible by private donations from MSP troopers and employees. The museum, originally intended to be located at the site of the former Troop C2 barracks, was relocated to a building in Whitinsville after a fire damaged a portion of the old barracks building in 2017. Exhibits at the museum include:- Restored 1931, 1941, 1951, 1978 Ford cruisers
- Motorcycles, including a 1951 Indian
- State Police weapons
- Historical uniforms, hats and artifacts
- Harvard riot photos and riot equipment
- Mounted police equipment and other equine related items
- Original teletype machine
- The first computer and Mobile Data Terminals used by the MSP
- Historic daily station logs
- President John F. Kennedy photos and memorabilia
- Nostalgic badges and patches
Consolidation of state-controlled police agencies
Rank structure
The Massachusetts State Police rank structure is as listed:| Rank | Insignia |
| Colonel | |
| Lieutenant Colonel | |
| Major | |
| Detective Captain | |
| Captain | |
| Detective Lieutenant | |
| Lieutenant | |
| Sergeant | |
| Trooper First Class | No insignia |
| Trooper | No insignia |
| Probationary Trooper | No insignia |
| State Police Trainee | No insignia |
Promotion to the ranks of Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Captain is based on varying combinations of years of service, promotional exam score, and/or performance on oral examination boards. The ranks of Detective Lieutenant and Detective Captain are appointed; an individual must already have attained the rank of Lieutenant prior to being appointed to the rank of Detective Lieutenant and must have attained the rank of Captain prior to being appointed to the rank of Detective Captain.
The ranks of Major and Lieutenant Colonel are appointed by the Colonel/Superintendent. The Deputy Superintendent holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. The Colonel/Superintendent is appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Organization
- Office of the Superintendent of the State Police
- * Division of Field Services
- * Division of Investigative Services
- * Division of Administrative Services
- * Division of Standards & Training
- * Division of Homeland Security & Preparedness
Division of Field Services
State Police stations
Troop A
Troop "A" includes the northeastern section of the commonwealth. The A Troop headquarters are located in Danvers, and there are 70 municipalities located within Troop A.Troop A Barracks are located in:
Troop B
Troop "B" includes the western section of the commonwealth. The B Troop headquarters are in Northampton. Troop B has primary law enforcement responsibilities in many municipalities that lack local police departments in Western Massachusetts.Troop B Barracks are located in:
Troop C
Troop "C" includes the central section of the commonwealth. It is the largest of the troops, and the C Troop headquarters are located in Holden. 85 towns rely on C Troop to assist with law enforcement or provide primary patrol coverage. Troop C Barracks C8, located in New Braintree, has no operational Troopers, but is the New Braintree Emergency Dispatch Center, which is the PSAP for police, fire and emergency medical services for the towns of New Braintree, Hardwick, Petersham, West Brookfield, North Brookfield, Brookfield, East Brookfield, Brimfield, Holland and Wales. It is co-located with the State Police Academy.Troop C Barracks are located in:
Troop D
Troop "D" includes the southeastern section of the commonwealth. The D Troop headquarters are located in Middleborough, and the Troop also includes Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket.Troop D Barracks are located in:
Troop F
Troop F patrols and provides law enforcement for all properties of the Massachusetts Port Authority, including Boston's Logan International Airport in East Boston, Boston's seaport district, the Port of Boston, the Worcester Regional Airport, and South Boston's World Trade Center. Until 2010, its only barracks was located within the airport. It moved to a building on the outskirts, allowing for more space, parking, and better access to the property.The Troop F Commander also serves as Massport's Director of Aviation Security.
Troop F Barracks is located in:
- F–1 Logan International Airport
Troop H
Troop H Barracks are located in: