State Agencies

MARYLAND STATE POLICE

Col. Thomas S. Smith, Superintendent
Lt. Col. John G. Blades, Deputy Superintendent

Lt. Col. Edward M. Evans, Chief, Field Opera-
tions Bureau

Lt. Col. Johnny G. Lough, Chief, Special Opera-
tions Bureau

Lt. Col. Samuel R. Dorsey, Chief, Logistical Ser-
vices Bureau

Headquarters
Pikesville 21208 Telephone: 486-3101

The Maryland State Police, originally estab-
lished by Chapter 303, Acts of 1935, had its
functions recodified by Chapter 547, Acts of
1968. The Agency is charged with the enforce-
ment of the motor vehicle and criminal laws of
the State, and more specifically to safeguard the
lives and safety of all persons within the State, to
protect property, and to assist in securing to all
persons the equal protection of law. The Agency
also has the responsibility to preserve the public
peace; to detect and prevent crime; to enforce the
laws and ordinances of the State and its local
subdivisions; to apprehend and arrest criminals
and those who violate or are lawfully accused of
violating such laws and ordinances; to preserve
order in public places; to maintain the safe and
orderly flow of traffic on public streets and high-
ways; to cooperate with and assist law enforce-
ment agencies in carrying out their duties; and to
discharge its duties and responsibilities with the
dignity and manner that will inspire public confi-
dence and respect.

The Agency has statewide jurisdiction, except
in incorporated municipalities. Within such mu-
nicipalities its jurisdiction is limited to: (1) when
in pursuit of an offender or suspected offender;
(2) when in search of an offender or suspected of-
fender wanted for a crime committed outside the
limits of the municipality, or when interviewing
or seeking to interview a witness or supposed wit-
ness to such a crime; (3) when requested to act
by the chief executive officer of the municipality
in question or its chief police officer; (4) when or-
dered by the Governor to act within the munici-
pality in question; (5) when enforcing the motor
vehicle laws of the State; (6) in any building or
place when ordered by the president of the Senate
and the speaker of the House, or either of them,
to guard the safety of the legislative process; (7)

Public Safety and Correctional Services/265

to protect the safety of an elected State official
(Code 1957, Art. 88B, secs. 3, 4, 20, and 23).

The State Police also enforce the provisions of
the Code relating to controlled dangerous sub-
stances (narcotics) throughout the State without
any limitation as to activities within municipal
corporations or other subdivisions (Code 1957,
Art. 27, sec. 298 (g)).

The State Police is directed by the Superinten-
dent, who is appointed by the Governor with the
advice and consent of the Senate to serve at the
pleasure of the Governor. Chapter 547, Acts of
1968, also provides for the appointment of a
Deputy Superintendent, who is designated by the
Superintendent with the approval of the Secretary
of Public Safety and Correctional Services (Code
1957, Art. 88B, secs. 14 and 16).

The Investigation Division of the State Police
has the responsibility to conduct requested crimi-
nal investigations that occur anywhere within the
State of Maryland. This responsibility includes,
but is not limited to, the detection and arrest of
criminal offenders, the recovery of lost and stolen
property, handling extradition proceedings, and
performing other investigations as directed by the
Superintendent of the State Police.

The Crime Laboratory Division of the State
Police maintains detailed files and records and
cooperates with other law enforcement agencies
in the exchange of information relating to crimes
and criminals. Laboratory services are provided
to all allied agencies upon request, and field ser-
vice technicians are available throughout the State
to process crime and disaster scenes using the lat-
est in scientific equipment.

In 1976 the State Legislature created the State
Criminal Justice Information System. This sys-
tem, which is a central repository for the collec-
tion, storage, and dissemination of criminal histo-
ry record information, functions under the opera-
tional control of the State Police. The system
compiles statistics on criminal activity throughout
the State. This compilation of criminal statistics
from all law enforcement jurisdictions is pub-
lished in the form of quarterly crime reports for
the entire State. Analysis of the figures indicating
trends and other pertinent statistical data is ac-
complished by this system (Code 1957, Art. 27,
secs. 742-755).

The State Police is also charged with the licens-
ing of private detectives and security guards
(Code 1957, Art. 56, secs. 75-92) and Maryland
railroad police (Ch. 469, Acts of 1979), as well as