About the West Virginia State Police

The West Virginia State Police was created in 191 with the mission stated of, “it is the mission of the West Virginia State Police to provide direct and indirect law enforcement services, in a proficient and courteous manner, to the citizens of the state and to other law enforcement entities to ensure the continued security of persons, residential, governmental and business properties, and the safety of motorists operating on the state’s streets and highways.”

According to the West Virginia State Police 2006 annual report, “As West Virginia’s statewide law enforcement agency, the State Police is charged with the responsibility of general and special law enforcement and criminal investigation services with concentration in rural unincorporated areas of the state.  Troopers conduct highway patrol and traffic enforcement for both unincorporated areas and interstate highways, and provide security and police services throughout the stet for many athletic events, fairs and festivals.

In addition to criminal investigation, traffic patrol and security related duties, the West Virginia State Police provide the following services to law enforcement agencies and governmental entities within the state: executive protection services; legislative security; forensics laboratory services; the central criminal records repository for all state arrests and dispositions; law enforcement training, certification, and in-service; assisting other law enforcement agencies in criminal investigations’ the central clearinghouse for law enforcement reporting data; the West Virginia Motor Vehicle Inspection Program; and, assistance to other public agencies in time of natural or other emergency or disaster.  

In order to accomplish the mission of the State Police and perform the duties and responsibilities required, the department is comprised of three divisions: Executive Services; Staff Services; and, field Operations.

Personnel with the Staff Services and Executive Services of the West Virginia State Police performs the administrative, accounting, and executive services necessary to operate the department.  Existing organizationally within Executive Services is: Planning and Research; Media Relations; and, Legal Services.  The Staff Services of the West Virginia State Police is comprised of: Accounting; Communications; Criminal Records; Forensic Laboratory; Personnel; Procurement: Traffic Records; and, Uniform Crime Reporting.  Professional Standards is a separate unit of the West Virginia State Police Department Headquarters and reports directing to the Deputy Superintendent.  During 2006, 84 sworn state troopers were assigned within these sections.

During 2006, 595 sworn State Troopers were assigned to the West Virginia State Police Field Operations Division (the agency has an additional 343 civilian personnel, overall).  Field Operations, like most state and local law enforcement agencies, is the largest organizational component of the West Virginia State Police.  The Field Operations Division is organized into 7 Uniformed Field Troops, which are divided into 20 districts consisting of 65 detachments.  In addition, the Bureau of Criminal Investigations provides personnel statewide for undercover and criminal investigations.  Special Operations, Executive Protection and Training Academy are organizationally within Field Operations.