Alabama Highway Patrol
| Alabama Law Enforcement Agency | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | ALEA |
|
Patch of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency | |
|
Alabama Highway Patrol Door Seal | |
|
Badge of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency | |
| Motto | Courtesy, Service, Protection |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 1936 |
| Employees | 1,268 (as of 2004) [1] |
| Legal personality | Governmental: Government agency |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction* | State of Alabama, USA |
| Size | 52,419 square miles (135,760 km2) |
| Population | 4,627,851 (2007 est.)[2] |
| General nature | |
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | Montgomery, Alabama |
| Trooper / Special Agents | 681 (as of 2004) [1] |
| Civilians | 587 (as of 2004) [1] |
| Agency executive | Major Herman Wright, Division Chief |
| Parent agency | Alabama Department of Public Safety |
| Facilities | |
| Posts | 17 |
| Website | |
| Official AHP website | |
| Footnotes | |
| * Divisional agency: Division of the country, over which the agency has usual operational jurisdiction. | |
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is the de facto state police organization for the U.S. state of Alabama, and which has full jurisdiction anywhere in the State. The Alabama Highway Patrol was created in 1936 to protect the lives, property and constitutional rights of Alabamians.
First pony car vehicles
In 1971 the Alabama Highway Patrol became the first police organization in the United States to use down-sized vehicles for regular highway patrol duties. This pre-dated, among others, the Camaros and Mustangs that were used by other departments years later. The AMC Javelins were the first pony cars used as police cars by any U.S. organization.[3]
The Alabama Highway Patrol evaluated two versions supplied by Reinhardt AMC of Montgomery, Alabama: a 1971 AMC Javelin SST with a 304 cu in (5.0 L) V8 and a 1971 Javelin-AMX with a 401 cu in (6.6 L) V8 engine.[4] Because they were so different than the traditional police cars, the Javelin AMX "was the most abused police car in the history of Alabama."[5] The "401-cu.in. V-8, three-speed automatic and 2.87 gears were good for about 140 mph, by which point the nose of the car started to get rather light."[6]
After this trial, the first order was for 61 cars finished in silver and ten unmarked cars in various colors.[7] Due to further cost-cutting reasons the were base model Javelins with heavy-duty "fleet" equipment, "machine wheels" with Goodyear Polyglas raised-white-lettered tires, and a rear spoiler (normally available only on a Javelin AMX model) to display the "State Trooper" markings on the rear of each car.[4] A '401' emblem covered the holes in the spoiler to replace the AMX emblem. During 1972, a total of 62 Javelins were ordered: 12 in all silver paint, 42 were finished with the hoods, decklids, and spoilers in blue over silver body as the new police car scheme, as well as eight were unmarked cars in various colors.[7] The 1972 models were only available from AMC as "SST" versions and included additional exterior and interior trim. The 1972 versions were delivered by Reinhardt AMC and also by Bill Whitten AMC/Datsun in Birmingham.[7]
A total of 132 Javelins were purchased during 1971 and 1972.[8] The Javelins came with 401 cu in (6.6 L) 335 horsepower (250 kW; 340 PS) AMC V8 engines.[9] The cars had a 1st-gear lock-out feature installed by state maintenance.[7] the Alabama State Troopers became famous for their fast, cool-looking patrol cars with the capability of going over 150 mph (240 km/h)."[10] The last of the AMC Javelins was retired in 1979, and one of the original cars is now part of the Museum at DPS Headquarters.[9][11]
Rank Structure
The Alabama Department of Public Safety rank structure is as listed:
| Rank | Insignia
Chief |
|---|---|
| Colonel |  |
| Lieutenant Colonel |  |
| Major |  |
| Captain |  |
| Lieutenant |  |
| Sergeant |  |
| Corporal |  |
| Trooper |  |
Fallen officers
Since the establishment of the Alabama Highway Patrol, 29 officers have died while on duty:[12]
| Name | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Trooper Ervin Michael Hawk Johnston, II | Monday, June 16, 2008 | Duty related illness |
| Trooper Brian Keith Nichols | Sunday, February 17, 2002 | Automobile accident |
| Trooper Willis Von Moore | Monday, February 26, 1996 | Automobile accident |
| Trooper Robert William Jones | Thursday, October 3, 1991 | Automobile accident |
| Trooper Elizabeth S. Cobb | Sunday, October 11, 1987 | Gunfire |
| Trooper Larry D. Cawyer | Saturday, May 25, 1985 | Automobile accident |
| Trooper Simmie L. Jeffries | Friday, December 21, 1984 | Automobile accident |
| Trooper David E. Temple | Thursday, September 13, 1979 | Gunfire |
| Trooper Johnnie Earl Booker | Thursday, November 2, 1978 | Automobile accident |
| Sergeant Julian Douglas Stuckey | Thursday, June 27, 1974 | Automobile accident |
| Trooper Kenyon M. Lassiter | Friday, April 19, 1974 | Vehicular assault |
| Trooper Bobby S. Gann | Thursday, February 21, 1974 | Gunfire |
| Trooper James B. Robinson | Sunday, December 10, 1972 | Gunfire |
| Corporal Riley Delano Smith | Friday, December 17, 1971 | Electrocuted |
| Auxiliary Trooper Ormand Franklin Watkins | Sunday, April 11, 1971 | Gunfire |
| Corporal Harlan B. Blake | Saturday, October 10, 1970 | Vehicle pursuit |
| Corporal Thomas O. Gillilan | Wednesday, July 1, 1970 | Gunfire |
| Trooper Brooks D. Lawson | Thursday, July 31, 1969 | Struck by train |
| Trooper Randolph G. Glover | Wednesday, July 19, 1967 | Automobile accident |
| Sergeant Raymond M. Carlton | Saturday, February 27, 1965 | Automobile accident |
| Captain Thomas E. Maxwell | Thursday, October 4, 1962 | Automobile accident |
| Patrolman Anthony Scozzaro | Wednesday, December 13, 1961 | Automobile accident |
| Patrolman Joe F. Partin | Monday, July 25, 1960 | Motorcycle accident |
| Patrolman Howard Brock | Friday, November 8, 1957 | Vehicle pursuit |
| Patrolman Julian F. Draughon | Saturday, October 3, 1953 | Motorcycle accident |
| Patrolman Henry Preston Bryant | Sunday, December 7, 1952 | Vehicle pursuit |
| Patrolman Arvil O. Hudson | Tuesday, May 20, 1952 | Vehicle pursuit |
| Patrolman William D. Raiford, Sr. | Saturday, October 16, 1937 | Motorcycle accident |
| Patrolman Maury Young | Saturday, September 5, 1936 | Motorcycle accident |
Other notable officers
James Bonard Fowler became a significant player in escalating the acute racial conflict that led to the Selma to Montgomery marches in the American Civil Rights Movement.[13] As a corporal in the Alabama State Police in 1965, he shot and killed an unarmed black man, Jimmie Lee Jackson, but was not prosecuted and convicted for the killing until 45 years later.[13][14] Fowler is also under investigation in the May 8, 1966 death of 34-year-old Nathan Johnson, another unarmed black man.[15] Johnson had been arrested for suspicion of drunken driving on U.S. Highway 31 and was fatally shot by Fowler at the Alabaster, Alabama Police Department.[15][16]
See also
References
- 1 2 3 USDOJ Statistics Archived November 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ "2007 Population Estimates". Census.gov. 2009-01-07. Archived from the original on November 8, 2010. Retrieved 2010-11-18.
- ↑ Newhardt, David; Harholdt, Peter; Yates, Brock (2009). Art of the Muscle Car. MBI Publishing. p. 85. ISBN 9780760335918. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
Alabama State Police officials felt that if they couldn't beat 'em under the rules, then they would change the rules.
- 1 2 "The 1971-1972 AMC Javelin - The Original Pony Police Car". Special Service & Non-Traditional Police/Fire Vehicles. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
- ↑ Strohl, Daniel (December 2007). "Alabama Hammah - AMC Javelin". Hemmings Muscle Machines. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
- ↑ Strohl, Daniel (10 October 2007). "158 mph in the boss's car on an Alabama evening". Hemmings. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 Rosa, John (28 May 2009). "The Alabama Department of Public Safety - AMC Javelin Highway Patrol/Pursuit cars". JavelinAMX.com. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
- ↑ Newhardt, pages 182-187.
- 1 2 "The Alabama State Trooper - AMC Javelin". Alabama Department of Public Safety. 2012. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
- ↑ Golfen, Bob (14 November 2014). "Pick of the Week: 1972 AMC Javelin police-car tribute". Classic Car News. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
- ↑ "Department of Public Safety History: 1935-1990". Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
- ↑ "Alabama Department of Public Safety, Alabama Fallen Officers". Odmp.org. Retrieved 2015-09-01.
- 1 2 Fleming, John (6 March 2005), "The Death of Jimmy Lee Jackson", Anniston Star, retrieved 2008-01-21
- ↑ Brown, Robbie (15 November 2010). "45 Years Later, an Apology and 6 Months". New York Times. Archived from the original on September 13, 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2010.
- 1 2 Associated, Press (24 November 2009). "FBI: Ex-Alabama trooper Fowler's 1966 killing of black man in Alabaster jail still probed". Anniston Star. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
- ↑ Associated, Press (24 November 2009). "FBI says ex-trooper's 1966 killing of black probed". Anniston Star. Retrieved 3 February 2011.