Oklahoma Highway Patrol

Oklahoma Highway Patrol
Abbreviation	OHP
Patch of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
Agency overview
Formed	April 20, 1937
Employees	1133 (as of 2010)
Legal personality	Governmental: Government agency
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction*	State of Oklahoma, USA
Map of Oklahoma Highway Patrol's jurisdiction.
Size	69,898 square miles (181,030 km2)
Population	3,617,316 (2007 est.)[1]
General nature	Law enforcement Civilian police
Operational structure
Headquarters	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Troopers	817 (as of 2010)
Civilians	316 (as of 2010)
Agency executive	Colonel Kerry Pettingill, Chief of the Patrol
Parent agency	Oklahoma Department of Public Safety
Website
Oklahoma Highway Patrol website
Footnotes
* Divisional agency: Division of the country, over which the agency has usual operational jurisdiction.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is a major state law enforcement agency of the government of Oklahoma. It is a division of the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol was legislatively created in 1937 due to the growing problem of motor vehicle accidents, the expansion of a highway system, and the increase in criminal activities. Today, they comprise highly trained and motivated sworn troopers and civilian personnel who are dedicated to serve the citizens of Oklahoma.

As the principal statewide law enforcement agency in Oklahoma, the State Patrol is dedicated to providing quality policing directed at achieving safer roadways and reducing crime through pro-active investigations, education and patrol services and by providing leadership and resources during natural disasters, civil disorders and critical incidents.

The Highway Patrol is under the command of Colonel Kerry Pettingill, who is the current Chief of the Highway Patrol. Pettingill was appointed by DPS Commissioner Michael C. Thompson to succeed Van M. Guillotte as Chief.

History

In 1937, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol was created under Governor E. W. Marland. That same year the first 125 graduated from the Highway Patrol Academy. The new state troopers met resistance from Oklahoma motorists who were not used to living within the bounds of traffic regulations when none had ever before existed. But the troopers were prepared for this as they paved the way for all future officers by exerting good manners and service to all citizens. A total of 288,277 warnings compared with only 5,518 arrests and citations were written in the first nine months of patrol.

With over 800 troopers statewide, the division has grown into several areas of special services including Public Information, Capitol Patrol, Marine Enforcement, Training, Bomb Squad, Motorcycle, Tactical Teams, Special Operations, Aircraft, Audits and Fraudulent Driver License. The department revived "The Flying Squadron", a motorcycle division that utilizes Harley Davidson motorcycles. A bomb squad was organized who operate state-of-the-art equipment unparalleled in Oklahoma including two bomb trucks and robots. The east and west tactical teams continue to send their troopers through specialized training programs that elevate them to the best in the state. Special Operations, formerly Criminal Interdiction, now has troopers who each have a well-trained drug canine.

Mission

The mission of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol is: Working to provide a safe, secure environment for the public through courteous, quality and professional services.

Organization

The Highway Patrol, which is an agency of the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety (DPS), is under the command and direction of the Chief of the Patrol. The Chief is responsible for the DPS Commissioner for the operations, capabilities and plans of the Patrol. The Chief is assisted in managing the Patrol with the help of three Deputy Chiefs.

The Patrol is divided into Troops, or Sections, each headed by a Captain. Each of these Troops has either limited geographic jursidiction or State-wide functional jursidiction with some Troops having law enforcement functions while others have support functions. The thirteen field Troops are the primary the field activities of the Patrol and are where the bulk of the Patrol's Troopers are assigned. These Troops are primarily responsible for the traffic enforcement and vehicle crash investigation along the State's highways. The Turnpike Troops are have the same mission as the Field Troops but have sole jurisdiction over the State's Turnpikes. The Specialized Troops, often called Sections, perform either a specialized law enforcement activity, such as the Lake Patrol Section, or provide support to the various Field Troops. The various Troops and Sections are organized into nine Zones, each headed by a Major. A tenth Major serves as the Patrol's inspector general. The thee Deputy Chiefs have line authority over these ten Majors.

Though an organized unit of the Highway Patrol, the Executive Security Section/Troop EX, which provides protection to the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, is not under the operational command of the Patrol Chief. Instead, the Troop answers directly to the DPS Commissioner. The Patrol Chief is responsible for organizing the Troop and ensuring its capabilities.

Structure

Chief of the Patrol Three Deputy Chiefs Zone 1 Troop H – Clinton Troop M – Atlus Troop S – Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Section Zone 2 Troop B – Tulsa Troop D – McAlester Troop E – Durant Troop Z – Internal Affairs Zone 3 Troop A – Oklahoma City Troop T – Training Section Law Enforcement Technology Section Oklahoma Highway Safety Office Zone 4 Troop I – Guymon Troop J – Enid Troop K – Pawnee Troop SO – Special Operations Section Troop P – Public Affairs Section Evidence Section Communications Division Zone 5 Bomb Squad Section Troop C – Muskogee Troop L – Vinita Troop W – Marine Enforcement Section

Zone 6 Troop XA/XD – Will Rogers and Cherokee Turnpikes Troop XB/XE – Muskogee and Creek Turnpikes Troop XC – Indian Nation Turnpike Troop YA/YB/YE – Cimarron, Turner, and John Kilpatrick Turnpikes Troop YC – H. E. Bailey Turnpike Zone 7 Troop F – Ardmore Troop O – Aircraft Supply Section Zone 8 Troop G – Lawton Zone 9 Troop R – Capitol Patrol Section Wrecker Services Division Transportation Division Audit and Inspection Division Troop ES – Executive Security Section Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security

Field troops

The Highway Patrol divides Oklahoma geographically into thirteen "Field Troops", each comprising several counties. These Field Troops of the Highway Patrol have primary law enforcement authority on state, federal, and interstate highways, including those inside city limits.

District	Headquarters	Coverage
Troop A	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma	Metro OKC including Oklahoma, Logan, Lincoln, Canadian, Pottawatomie, Cleveland, and McClain Counties
Troop B	Tulsa, Oklahoma	Tulsa, Creek, Rogers and Okmulgee Counties
Troop C	Muskogee, Oklahoma	McIntosh, Muskogee, Sequoyah, Adair, Cherokee, Haskell, and Wagoner Counties
Troop D	McAlester, Oklahoma	Le Flore, Latimer, Seminole, Pittsburg, Hughes, and Okfuskee Counties
Troop E	Durant, Oklahoma	McCurtain, Choctaw, Bryan, Marshall, Atoka, Coal, and Pushmataha Counties
Troop F	Ardmore, Oklahoma	Garvin, Pontotoc, Murray, Love, and Johnston Counties
Troop G	Lawton, Oklahoma	Caddo, Commanche, Cotton, Grady, Stephens, and Jefferson Counties
Troop H	Clinton, Oklahoma	Roger Mills, Beckham, Dewey, Custer, and Washita Counties
Troop I	Guymon, Oklahoma	Cimarron, Texas, Beaver, Harper, Ellis, and Woodward Counties
Troop J	Enid, Oklahoma	Kingfisher, Blaine, Garfield, Major, Woods, Alfalfa, and Grant Counties
Troop K	Perry, Oklahoma	Osage, Pawnee, Kay, Noble, and Payne Counties
Troop L	Vinita, Oklahoma	Nowata, Washington, Delaware, Ottawa, Craig, and Mayes Counties
Troop M	Altus, Oklahoma	Kiowa, Jackson, Tillman, Greer, and Harmon Counties

Turnpike troops

Turnpike troops of the Highway Patrol have sole law enforcement authority on the turnpikes of Oklahoma.

District	Headquarters	Coverage
Troop XA	Tulsa, Oklahoma	Will Rogers Turnpike
Troop XB	Muskogee, Oklahoma	Muskogee Turnpike
Troop XC	McAlester, Oklahoma	Indian Nation Turnpike
Troop XD	Chouteau, Oklahoma	Cherokee Turnpike
Troop XE	Tulsa, Oklahoma	Creek Turnpike
Troop YA	Stillwater, Oklahoma	Cimarron Turnpike
Troop YB	Stroud, Oklahoma	Turner Turnpike
Troop YC	Lawton, Oklahoma	H. E. Bailey Turnpike
Troop YE	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma	John Kilpatrick Turnpike

Specialized troops

Oklahoma Highway Patrol Suzuki Hayabusa

Specialty troops of the Highway Patrol perform specialized law enforcement functions within the scope of the mission and operation of the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, and have jurisdiction statewide.

Section	Headquarters	Coverage
Troop BT	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma	Bomb squad and hazardous material disposal
Troop ES	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma	Provides security and protection for the Governor of Oklahoma
Troop MC	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma	Motorcycle patrol for Oklahoma and Tulsa Counties
Troop O	Norman, Oklahoma	Aircraft Operations
Troop P	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma	Public Information
Troop R	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma	Capitol Patrol Section, provides security and protection for Oklahoma State Capitol
Troop S	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma	Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Section, including motor carrier safety, hazardous materials transportation, and size and weight enforcement
Troop SO	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma	Special Operations, including investigating vehicle theft and fraud, criminal interdiction, evidence supervision, and asset forfeiture
Troop T	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma	Training
Troop W	Barnsdall, Oklahoma	Marine Enforcement
Troop Z	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma	Investigations Division
Dive Team	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma	Recovery team for victims, vehicles, and/or evidence from drownings, vehicle or boating accidents, natural disasters, and the investigation of any criminal act involving the waters of the state
Tactical Team	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma	Responds to manhunts, search and rescue operations, high risk warrants, hostage/barricaded subjects and any other duties required by the Chief of the Patrol

Specailized Units

Aviation Division

The Aviation Division is a specialized unit within the Highway Patrol. The Aviaition Division, or Troop O, serves as the law enforcement air support arm of Patrol. The Division provides aircraft to respond to various emergencies and tasks by supporting other units of the Patrol. In particular, the Division's aircraft are to provide airborne assistance to OHP ground units in traffic enforcement, manhunts, and search and rescue operations statewide. This Division also provides state personnel, such as the Governor, with transportation.

The Division was created in 1947 by Lt. Art Hamilton and obtains its helicopters through United States Military surplus and other law enforcement agencies. As of 2011, the Division operates two helicopters and six fixed-wing aircraft. An aircraft mechanic and inspector were hired and an in-house maintenance program has been developed. This has provided increased safety and reliability of aviation operations with a decrease in costs. Prior to this time, the Patrol had utilized random maintenance facilities across the state.

The Division is composed of 8 law enforcement personnel, with 6 Troopers and 2 ranked officers. The Division is under the direction of a Troop Commander, who has the rank of Captain with the Highway Patrol. The Commander is assisted in managing the Troop with the aid of one Supervisor. The Lieutenant oversees both branches of the Division: the helicopters and the fix-wing aircraft.

Investigations Division

The Investigations Division (previously known as Internal Affairs Section) is a special investigative unit within the Highway Patrol. The Investigations Division, or Troop Z, serves as the professional responsibility unit for the Patrol. The Division conducts and coordinates the investigations of allegations of serious misconduct on the part of Highway Patrolmen. Troop Z also serve as the primary criminal detection and investigation arm of the Patrol, with Troopers assigned to the Troop Z responsible for conducting crime scene investigations.

Special Operations Section

The Special Operations Section is a special law enforcement unit with the Highway Patrol. It is the duty of the Special Operations Section, or Troop SO, responsible for conducting criminal detection and prevention. In particular, the Section performs traffic stops to investigate and prevent motor vehicle theft and fraud, as well as other forms of stolen property. The Section is also the chief unit in the Highway Patrol that is responsible for drug interdiction. The Special Operations Section detects and arrests criminals who use the State's roads and highways to transport drugs and other illegal substances. The Highway Patrol's drug canine handlers are located within this Section. Additional duties of the Section include initiating manhuts annd fugitive apprehensions, controlling all evidence seized by the Patrol, as well as managing all seized property.

Troop SO is composed of 24 law enforcement personnel, with 21 Troopers and 3 ranked officers. Unlike the field troops of the Highway Patrol, the Special Operations Section has jurisdiction statewide as opposed to a specific geographic area. The Troop is under the direction of a Troop Commander, who has the rank of Captain with the Highway Patrol. The Commander is assisted in managing the Troop with the aid of two Supervisors, who each has the rank of OHP Lieutenant.

Marine Enforcement Section

The Marine Enforcement Section (formerly known as the Lake Patrol) is a special law enforcement unit within the Highway Patrol.^[2] It is the duty of the Lake Patrol Section, or Troop W, to serve as the boating education, enforcement and marine investigation arm of the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety. The Lake Patrol was originally created on July 1, 1971, by the Oklahoma Legislature as a separate division of the Department, with the Patrol Commander reporting directly to the Commissioner of the Department. However, in 1998, the Legislature passed a law reorganizing the Department. In so doing, the Lake Patrol was merged with the Highway Patrol. In 2011, the Legislature renamed the Lake Patrol as the Marine Enforcement Section.

The Marine Enforcement Section, as the marine law enforcement branch of the Highway Patrol, provides law enforcement service to 38 state lakes and recreation areas consisting of 4,385 miles of shoreline and 490,215 surface acres of water. In addition to regular water patrol duties, Marine Enforcement troopers conduct search and rescue missions, investigate boating accidents and drowning incidents. During natural disasters and emergency situations, the Lake Patrol assists other state and local authorities.

All Troopers that join the Highway Patrol are initially assigned to one of the 13 field troops of the Patrol. After at least seven years with the Patrol, the Trooper is eligbale to be reassigned to the Marine Enforcement Section.

Troop W is composed of 44 law enforcement personnel, with 38 Troopers and 6 ranked officers. Unlike the field troops of the Highway Patrol, has jurisdiction statewide as opposed to a specific geographic area. The Troop is under the direction of a Troop Commander, who has the rank of Captain with the Highway Patrol. The Commander is assisted in managing the Troop with the aid of five Supervisors, who each has the rank of OHP Lieutenant. Each Supervisor oversees one of the five Districts of the Troop. The Districts are organized as follows:

• District 1 – northeastern Oklahoma, headquartered in Barnsdall – Troop W headquarters
• District 2 – Lake Texoma and south-central Oklahoma, headquartered in Kingston
• District 3 – central and western Oklahoma, headquartered in Oklahoma City
• District 4 – eastern Oklahoma, headquartered in Muskogee
• District 5 – southeastern Oklahoma, headquartered in McAlester

Capitol Patrol Section

The Capitol Patrol is a special law enforcement unit within the Highway Patrol.^[3] It is the duty of the Capitol Patrol Section, or Troop R, to provide law enforcement and protection services for the State Capitol Complex and all state office buildings within Oklahoma County and Tulsa County. The Capitol Patrol was originally created on July 1, 1971, by the Oklahoma Legislature as a separate division of the Department, with the Patrol Commander reporting directly to the Commissioner of the Department. However, in 1998, the Legislature passed a law reorganizing the Department. In so doing, the Capitol Patrol was merged with the Highway Patrol.

The Capitol Patrol, as the primary uniformed security force of the State, is responsible for policing, securing and ensuring a safe environment in which State employees conduct their business. Troop R has the primary responsibility with protecting the members of the Oklahoma Legislature, the Justices of the Oklahoma Supreme Court, State employees and over 70 state facilities. The personal security of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor is provided by the Troop ES, the Executive Security Section.

All Troopers that join the Highway Patrol are initially assigned to one of the 13 field troops of the Patrol. After at least seven years with the Patrol, the Trooper is eligible to be reassigned to the Capitol Patrol.

Troop R is composed of 63 total law enforcement personnel, with 50 Troopers and 13 ranked officers. Unlike any other Troop of the Highway Patrol, Troop R has unlimited law enforcement jurisdiction in Oklahoma County and Tulsa County. In the performance of their primary security duty, the Capitol Patrol Troopers have the authority to enforce all parking, traffic, and criminal laws of the State. The Troop is under the direction of a Troop Commander, who has the rank of Captain with the Highway Patrol. The Commander is assisted in managing the Troop with the aid of twelve Supervisors, who each has the rank of OHP Lieutenant.

Training Division

The Training Division is a specialized unit of the Highway Patrol. Training Division, or Troop T, is responsible for overseeing all entry-level and continuing education of all Patrol personnel. The Training Division is divided into four detachments: Technical Skills, Academy Development, Defensive Tactics, and Legal Research. The Training Division is located on the Department of Public Safety's headquarters at the Robert R. Lester Training Center. The training center houses classrooms, a dormitory, cafeteria facilities, a computer lab, and a physical fitness center.

The primary function of the Training Division is to plan, organize, and conduct the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Academy for entry-level Patrol Cadets. Academy sessions, which are held as authorized by the Oklahoma Legislature, are 20 weeks long with Cadets residing at the Academy during the session. Daily activities include physical training and classroom instruction. The Academy typically graduates between 50 and 60 Cadets each session. The Division also coordinates all continued educational; and training requirements for Troopers.

The Training Division is under the commander of a Troop Commander, who has the rank of Captain with the Highway Patrol. The Troop Commander also serves as the Academy Commandant for the Highway Patrol Academy.

Commercial Vehicle Section

The Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Section is a special law enforcement unit within the Highway Patrol.^[4] It is the duty of the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Section, or Troop S, to enforce all rules and regulation pertaining to the safe operation of commercial vehicles on the roads and highways of the State. The Section was established by the Oklahoma Legislature on May 31, 1949.

The Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Section performs roadside inspections of commercial vehicles through the operation of local weigh stations to ensuring not only compliance with size and weight requirements but to detect and deter criminal activity. The Section also has the responsibility to enforce the laws of the State regulating the transportation of hazardous substances.

Troop S is composed of 67 law enforcement personnel, with 63 Troopers and 4 ranked officers. Unlike the field troops of the Highway Patrol, has jurisdiction statewide as opposed to a specific geographic area. The Troop is under the direction of a Troop Commander, who has the rank of Captain with the Highway Patrol. The Commander is assisted in managing the Troop with the aid of three Supervisors, who each has the rank of OHP Lieutenant.

Executive Security Section

The Executive Security Section is a specialized law enforcement unit of the Highway Patrol.^[5] The Section, also known as Troop ES, is responsible for providing the personal security and protection, transportation, and communications capabilities for the Governor of Oklahoma, the Governor's immediate family, and the Lieutenant Governor. The Troop is composed of 23 law enforcement personnel, including 19 Troopers and 4 ranked officers. The Section is commanded by a Troop Commander with the rank of OHP Captain. The Commander is assisted by three Lieutenants. 17 members of the Section are assigned to the Governor and 6 are assigned to the Lieutenant Governor. Troop ES also has the responsibility for ensuring security and providing for the protection of the Oklahoma Governor's Mansion.

Rank Structure

Current

As provided for by the Oklahoma Legislature, the ranks within the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are as follows:^[6]

Title	Insignia	Description
Commissioner of Public Safety		Appointed by the Governor of Oklahoma to serve as the head of the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety
Assistant Commissioner of Public Safety		Appointed by the Commissioner to serve as the second highest official in the Department
Chief of the Highway Patrol		Rank of Colonel, appointed by the Commissioner to be the professional head of the Patrol
Deputy Chief		Rank of Lieutenant Colonel, responsible for overseeing Patrol operations in an assigned region or performing administrative functions.
Major		Responsible for an overseeing zones which consist of two or more troops of the Patrol
Captain		Responsible for serving as a Troop Commander or performing a technical or specialized staff funcation
Lieutenant		First supervisory rank, responsible for supervising Troopers in the performance of their duties or performing a technical or specifized staff function
Trooper		Rank attained by Cadets upon successful completion of the training academy, responsible for field law enforcement patrol or specialized or technical law enforcement function
Cadet		A Cadet is a new recruit, and is the rank held by all personnel while assigned as a student at the training academy. These personnel do not wear rank insignia.

Former

When the Highway Patrol was established, the rank structure it used then varied slightly from the one presently in use. In 2006, HB 1616 established the current structure.^[7] The Chief of the Patrol remained a Colonel but this was the only rank not affected. The single position of Assistant Chief was eliminated and replaced with multiple Deputy Chiefs, each with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. The position of Deputy Chief, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, grew out of the old rank of Major. The Deputy Chiefs serve as the Chief's top day-to-day administrators over the various operations of the Patrol.

All other supervisory ranks were shifted one level up from the old system to the current system. For instance, a Captain under the old system would be equivalent to a Major in the current system. The new system abolished three ranks within the old system and establish one new rank. First Lieutenant, Second Lieutenant and Sergeant were all abolished while the rank of Deputy Chief was established. First Lieutenant rank evoled into the modern Captain rank and the Second Lieutenant rank evolved in the modern Lieutenant rank. OPH current does not recognize any First or Second Lieutenants. The rank of Sergeant was disestablished outright and folded into the steps of the basic Trooper rank.

Below is a comparison of the two systems:

Old System	Current System
Major	Deputy Chief (Lt. Colonel)
Captain	Major
1st Lieutenant	Captain
2nd Lieutenant (Supervisor)	Lieutenant
Sergeant	Trooper

Personnel

Pay Structure

Since the increases on July 1, 2007, as provided by Oklahoma state law, members of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are paid as follows:^[6]

Title	Insignia	Salary/Year
Commissioner of Public Safety		$111,133.00
Assistant Commissioner of Public Safety		$101,030.00
Chief of the Highway Patrol		$101,030.00
Assistant Chief of the Highway Patrol		$91,844.00
Lieutenant Colonel		$83,495.00
Major		$75,904.00
Captain		$69,004.00
Lieutenant		$62,731.00
Trooper		Step 7: $57,028.00 Step 6: $53,298.00 Step 5: $49,810.00 Step 4: $46,552.00 Step 3: $43,506.00 Step 2: $40,660.00 Step 1: $38,000.00 Probationary: $35,514.00
Cadet		$33,192.00

Requirements

In order to serve as a Trooper with the Highway Patrol, a person must be a citizen of the United States at lest 23 years old but not older than 46 years old and must either have an associate's degree or have completed a minimum of 62 semester hours from a college or university. Additionally, all Troopers must be persons of "good moral character", and as such, may not have been convicted of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude.^[8]

Pursuant to the provision of House Bill 1391, effective July 1, 2014, the education requirements to join the Highway Patrol will increase to the following:^[9]

• Must have a bachelor's degree, or
• Must have an associate's degree with at least:
  • two years experience as a Oklahoma Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training certified law enforcement officer, or
  • two years of honorable active or reserve military service with the United States Armed Forces

All applicants to join the Highway Patrol must meet the following physical requirements (all events are pass/fail events):^[10]

• Perform at least 32 sit-ups in succession in one minute
• Run 300 meters in under 0:65 minutes
• Perform at least 23 pushups in succession in one minute
• Run 1.5 miles in under 14:15 minutes

Applicants must also undergo a written test consisting of reading comprehension, problem solving, mathematics, writing, and spelling. It also includes an assessment of personality characteristics such as interpersonal ability, assertiveness, stress tolerance, and ethics/integrity. This test must be passed with a minimum score of 70%.

Prior to employment, all candidates must undergo a psychological evaluation and must submit to and successfully pass a controlled substance screening.^[11] Upon acceptance, the candidate must attend and successfully complete the Highway Patrol Academy conducted by the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety and must either be a certrified peace officer at the time of employment or must become certified within one year by the Oklahoma Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training.

Trooper promotions

All members of the Highway Patrol are automatically designated as Trooper Cadets after joining the Patrol. Upon graduation from the Highway Patrol Academy, each Trooper Cadet is automatically promoted to and receives the salary for the position of Probationary Trooper. Upon completion of the one-year probationary period, each Probationary Trooper is automatically be promoted to and receives the salary of Step 1 for the position of Trooper.^[6]

After the initial promote to the rank of Trooper, Step 1, all salary promotions within the rank of Trooper occur on January 1 of each year. For every year that a Trooper completes with the Highway Patrol, the annual salary of the Trooper increases to the next step. This in-grade promotion is dependent on the following conditions during the preceding year:

• The Trooper has achieved a satisfactory performance rating
• The Trooper has not received any disciplinary action that resulted in a suspension for ten or more days
• The Trooper has not received any disciplinary action which resulted in a demotion

Supervisory ranks

All promotions from Trooper into the supervisory ranks are based on tests administered by the Commissioner of Public Safety, in consultation with the Administrator of the Oklahoma Office of Personnel Management. These tests determine the physical and mental qualifications and all potential test-takers must satisfactorily complete a course of training in operations and procedures related to the rank desired.

In general, the following minimum requirements are needed to obtain the following ranks:

• Lieutenant – five years with the Patrol^[12]
• Captain – seven years with the Patrol and one year as a Lieutenant^[13]
• Major – eight years with the Patrol and one year as a Captain or two years as a Lieutenant^[13]
• Lt. Colonel – nine years with the Patrol and two years as a Major or four years as a Captain^[14]
• Assistant Chief – ten years with the Patrol and two years as a Major or four years as a Captain^[14]
• Chief of the Patrol – eleven years with the Patrol and one year the Assistant Chief, two years as a Lt. Colonel, four years as a Major or six years as a Captain^[14]

See also

	Oklahoma portal
	Law enforcement/Law enforcement topics portal

• Highway patrol
• List of law enforcement agencies in Oklahoma
• State patrol
• State police

References

1. ^ "State Fact Sheets: Oklahoma". Economic Research Service. United States Department of Agriculture. July 2, 2008. http://www.ers.usda.gov/statefacts/ok.htm. Retrieved July 10, 2008. 
2. ^ Section 2-105.6, Title 47, Oklahoma Statutes – Lake Patrol Section – Officers – Salaries
3. ^ Section 2-105.7, Title 47, Oklahoma Statutes – Lake Creation of Oklahoma Capitol Patrol Division Within the Department of Public Safety – Positions and Salaries
4. ^ Section 2-105.4A, Title 47, Oklahoma Statutes – Size and Weight Enforcement Section of Oklahoma Highway Patrol Division created – Additional members of Highway Patrol – Purchase, Maintenance of Vehicles and Equipment – Training
5. ^ http://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=81984 Section 2-101, Title 47, Oklahoma Statutes], Creation of Department of Public Safety and Office of Commissioner of Public Safety – Powers and Authority – Chief Officer – Services for Governor and Lieutenant Governor
6. ^ ^{a b c} Oklahoma Statutes Section 2-105.4, Title 47
7. ^ HB 2664, 2006 Oklahoma Legislature
8. ^ Oklahoma Statutes Section 2-105, Title 47
9. ^ HB 1391, 2011 Oklahoma Legislature
10. ^ Oklahoma Highway Patrol Recuirtment Website, July 28, 2011
11. ^ Oklahoma Statutes Section 2-105.5, Title 47
12. ^ Law Enforcement Highway Patrol Officer, Oklahoma Office of Personnel Management
13. ^ ^{a b} Law Enforcement Highway Patrol Manager, Oklahoma Office of Personnel Management
14. ^ ^{a b c} Law Enforcement Highway Patrol Administrator, Oklahoma Office of Personnel Management

External links

• Oklahoma Highway Patrol Official Site
• OK trooper Alan Beaty #444