266/Maryland Manual
with the registration of firearms and the investi-
gation, with the assistance of other police agen-
cies, of those persons desiring to purchase a
handgun from a registered firearms dealer (Code
1957, Art. 27, secs. 441-448).
The Agency is charged with the responsibility
to investigate all applicants desiring to wear, car-
ry, or transport a handgun. Investigations are
conducted by members of the State Police and
other police agencies. The Superintendent, after
reviewing the report of investigation, has the au-
thority to approve or disapprove the application
and either issue, or refuse to issue, an appropriate
permit (Code 1957, Art. 27, sec. 36). The Agency
also operates a voluntary firearms registration
service for those acquiring or owning firearms
that are not controlled by other statutes. The
Agency investigates and processes those persons
desiring to secure a special police commission
from the Governor (Code 1957, Art. 41, secs.
60-70).
Legislation in 1965 gave the State Police re-
sponsibility for licensing qualified garages and
other facilities to make inspections and correc-
tions of equipment and mechanisms and to certify
that used motor vehicles, for which titles are
sought, meet the equipment standards promulgat-
ed by the Motor Vehicle Administration (Code
Transportation Article, secs. 13-102, 103).
Reports of motor vehicle accidents investigated
by any law enforcement officer in the State must
be forwarded to the State Police. The Agency is
charged with the responsibility of analyzing and
preparing its statistical tables and charts based on
these reports.
The Truck Enforcement Division of the State
Police, under direct appropriation from the
Transportation Trust Fund, enforces the pro-
visions of the Motor Vehicle Code pertaining to
size, weight, and load of vehicles (Code Transpor-
tation Article, secs. 24-101, 24-112); laws gov-
erning registration of aircraft and pilots (Code
1957, Art. 1A, secs. 22-23); and laws governing
motor fuel tax (Code 1957, Art. 56, secs.
135-157) and fraud resulting from the sale of mo-
tor fuels and lubricants (Code 1957, Art. 27, secs.
231-233).
Chapter 452, Acts of 1968, provided for the
administration of the State Aid for Police Protec-
tion Fund by the Superintendent of the State Po-
lice (Code 1957, Art. 15A, secs. 35-39).
The Aviation Division provides helicopter ser-
vice throughout Maryland twenty-four hours a
|
day, seven days a week, to effect the evacuation
of seriously injured highway and other victims re-
quiring immediate transport to medical assis-
tance. Other missions include search and rescue,
criminal investigation support, traffic control, and
support in disasters and civil disturbances.
The Special Tactical Assault Team Element
(STATE) and the Hostage Recovery Team (HRT)
are comprised of personnel skilled in special tac-
tics to respond to barricade and hostage situa-
tions, sniper incidents, rescue operations, and oth-
er extraordinary occurrences. state's mission is
the neutralization of life threatening situations
with the least possible risk to the principals and
team members. HRT's mission is to assist in ne-
gotiations with hostage takers and barricaded in-
dividuals in an attempt to persuade them to re-
lease their hostages unharmed, to yield their
refuge, and to surrender without violence.
The State Police maintains trained K-9 teams
throughout the State. The primary purpose of the
trooper/K-9 teams is crime prevention and detec-
tion. All teams are trained in basic police proce-
dures, and a number have received special train-
ing in the detection of explosive substances,
narcotics, and firearms. Bloodhounds are also uti-
lized to search for lost and wanted persons.
The State Police maintains radio, teletype, and
other forms of communication between its own
installations and those of other law enforcement
agencies within the State and participates in a na-
tional teletype system. The Electronic Services
Division maintains communication equipment for
State Police and allied State, federal, and local
agencies. The Division maintains electronic de-
vices, including VASCAR and RADAR for the
State Police, and assists other agencies when
equipment is of similar design.
The State Police operates a Police Academy for
the training of its personnel. These facilities are
available to all other law enforcement agencies
throughout the State.
The Executive Protection Division provides se-
curity for the Governor, Lieutenant Governor,
Attorney General, and Comptroller as required.
To protect the safety of the legislative process,
personnel are assigned when required.
The Special Services Division is responsible for
gathering information pertaining to organized
crime, investigating violations of narcotics and
dangerous drug laws, as well as gambling, book-
making, and other crimes of vice.
|
