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1921 - Motorcycles
34 members of the State Highway Police begin work in July under the supervision of the State Highway Commission. 25 additional officers are commissioned in August. The officers/inspectors mostly work on a seasonal basis, but a few work full-time. They enforce motor vehicle laws and collect money from auto registrations and driver license fees. Some are issued Harley-Davidson and Indian motorcycles but most are assigned to offices around the state. -
1922 - New Boss
The State Highway Police are placed under the supervision of the Secretary of State. https://www.maine.gov/dps/msp/about/history -
1935- Name Change
"The State Highway Police are hereby designated and shall hereafter be known as the 'State Police'" is approved by the Maine Legislature. The name change makes official what had been customary for several years. Members are still required to re-enlist every three years. The department expands to 100 troopers. -
1945 - Keep it in the fam
The Maine Legislature passes a law requiring the chief of the State Police to come from the commissioned ranks of the department. -
1961- Suns out Guns out
An open collar short-sleeved shirt is adopted for summer wear. The Traffic Division is reorganized to include traffic records and the motor vehicle inspection program. -
1967- Bub
Perleston “Bub” Pert is named the first public information officer for State Police. -
1669 - Downtime
Troopers work week is changed from a six-day week to six days on and two days off -
1973- Promoted!
Corporal rank is instituted and sixty troopers and detectives are promoted to the new rank. The 29th training troop is the first to graduate from the new Maine Criminal Justice Academy in Waterville. The campus of the former Thomas College served as the state's police training facility until 2001. -
1995- Their watching you
Video cameras are purchased with federal highway safety funds and installed in many cruisers. The cameras prove useful in drunk driving enforcement and have several other law enforcement uses. https://www.maine.gov/mhpc/programs/protection-and-community-resources/laws-and-regulations -
2006 - Information Center
The Maine Information & Analysis Center is set up within State Police to share intelligence and criminal information with other states and federal counterparts. It is an outgrowth of the 9/11 terrorist attacks https://www.bangormaine.gov/police