Pennsylvania Capitol Police
The Pennsylvania State Capitol Police is a section of the Pennsylvania Department of General Services providing law enforcement, security and parking enforcement services to the State Capitol Complex in Harrisburg, and at state government office buildings in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Scranton, Pennsylvania.[1][2][3] Their jurisdiction is primarily state owned buildings and property on the Capitol Complex. The Capitol Police jurisdiction extends to several state owned buildings throughout the city of Harrisburg and local townships.
| Pennsylvania State Capitol Police | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 1895 |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction | United States |
| Legal jurisdiction | Capitol Complex and state office buildings in Dauphin County, PA, and Scranton, Pennsylvania |
| Specialist jurisdiction |
|
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | 70E Capitol East Wing, Harrisburg, PA 17125 |
| Agency executive |
|
| Facilities | |
| Stations | 2 |
| Patrol cars | 22 |
| Dogs | 5 |
The Pennsylvania State Capitol Police Force was established in 1895 under Governor Daniel Hartman Hastings, the state's 21st Governor. The enactment authorized the Capitol Police as the first Pennsylvania police agency under Commonwealth jurisdiction and the second oldest state police organization in the United States, after the Texas Rangers.[4]
Accreditation
The Capitol Police was initially accredited on July 9, 2005 through the Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission (PLEAC) and Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association. In 2020, the Pennsylvania Capitol Police received their fifth re-accreditation. In addition to being re-accredited, the Pennsylvania Capitol Police was awarded the Premier Agency Status by the PA Chiefs of Police.
The Capitol Police received International Accreditation on July 28, 2007, through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). In 2020, the Capitol Police was awarded their fifth award for being re-accredited. CALEA recognized the Pennsylvania Capitol Police for their professional excellence and demonstrating a commitment to being a highly trained police department.
Equipment
PA Capitol Police Vehicle
PA Capitol Police Bike Patrol
PA Capitol Police K9 Unit
PA Capitol Police Cruiser
PA Capitol Police Fleet
Special Response Team (S.R.T.) equipment shown during National Night Out
The PSCP has an all-Ford patrol fleet that consists of Police Interceptor Sedans and Police Interceptor Utilitys. The agency's vehicles are both marked and unmarked.
The Department has four K-9 Explosive Units trained in the detection of explosives. All delivery vehicles entering the building of the Capital Complex are searched. Also, the Capitol Police Department has a K-9 Narcotics/Patrol unit trained in the detection of drugs as well as for search and rescue operations.
Units
- Patrol
- K-9's (Explosive and Narcotics Detection and search and rescue)
- Bike Patrol
- Criminal Investigations
- Criminal Intelligence
- Mobile Field Force
- Special Response Team (S.R.T)
- Active Shooter and Crime Prevention Training
- Risk and Vulnerability Assessments
References
- Minnema, Lindsay (August 7, 2006). "Dog's job is to sniff out explosives". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved February 27, 2007.
- Thompson, Troy (September 23, 2013). "Pennsylvania State Capitol Police receive reaccreditation". Department of General Services. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
- Thompson, Troy (August 9, 2016). "Pennsylvania Capitol Police Department Receives State, International Reaccreditation". Department of General Services. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
- "PA Capitol Police".