State Agencies

of Public Safety and Correctional Services, the
Superintendent designates the Deputy Superinten-
dent (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, detection and arrest of crim-
inal offenders, recovery of lost and stolen proper-
ty, handling extradition proceedings, and per-
forming other investigations as directed hy the
Superintendent of the State Police.

The Crime Laboratory Division analyzes evi-
dence submitted by all Maryland law enforce-
ment agencies pursuing the investigation or prose-
cution of a criminal or motor vehicle offense.
Division personnel analyze controlled dangerous
substances, blood alcohol, arson propellants,
questioned documents, and other physical evi-
dence. The Division maintains mobile evidence
collection units in each troop area.

In 1976 the State Legislature created the State
Criminal Justice Information System. The Crimi-
nal Records Central Repository is responsible for
the collection, storage, and dissemination of crim-
inal history record information and is under the
operational control of the State Police. The Sys-
tem compiles analyses and publishes statistics on
criminal activity received from all law enforce-
ment jurisdictions in the State. Analysis of figures
indicating trends and other pertinent statistical
data is done by this system and shown in quar-
terly reports and an annual report entitled Crime
in Maryland (Code 1957, Art. 27, secs. 742-755).

The Licensing Division is charged with licens-
ing private detectives and security guards (Code
1957, Art. 56, secs. 75-92) and Maryland rail-
road police (Ch. 469, Acts of 1979), as well as
with registration of firearms and investigation,
with the assistance of other police agencies, of
those persons desiring to purchase a handgun
from a registered firearms dealer (Code 1957,
Art. 27, secs. 441^48).

The Licensing Division is responsible for inves-
tigating all applicants desiring to wear, carry, or
transport a handgun. Investigations are conduct-
ed by members of the State Police and other po-
lice agencies. The Superintendent, after reviewing
the report of investigation, has authority to ap-
prove or disapprove the application and either is-
sue, or refuse to issue, an appropriate permit
(Code 1957, Art. 27, sec. 36). The Division also
operates a voluntary firearms registration service
for those acquiring or owning firearms that are
not controlled by other statutes. The Division in-
vestigates and processes those persons desiring to

Public Safety and Correctional Services/295

secure a special police commission from the Gov-
ernor (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 Central Ac-
cident Records Division analyzes and prepares
statistical tables and charts based on these re-
ports.

The Truck Enforcement Division of the State
Police, under direct appropriation from the
Transportation Trust Fund, enforces the provi-
sions of the Motor Vehicle Code pertaining to
size, weight, and load of vehicles (Code Transpor-
tation Article, secs. 24-101, 24-112); and laws
governing motor fuel tax (Code 1957, Art. 56,
secs. 135-157) and fraud resulting from the sale
of motor fuels and lubricants (Code 1957, Art.
27, secs. 231-233).

By Chapter 452, Acts of 1968, the Superinten-
dent of the State Police administers the State Aid
for Police Protection Fund (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 spe-
cial tactics to respond to barricade and hostage
situations, sniper incidents, rescue operations, and
other extraordinary occurrences.

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
used to search for lost and wanted persons.

The Crime Prevention Unit conducts direct
crime prevention surveys of commercial and resi-
dential properties. Further, they provide training