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The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is the State Police force of California , originally set up as a Highway Patrol agency created in 1929 to ensure Road Safety in California , it assumed greater responsibility as time went on. It now also provides Security Police services while it protects state buildings and facilities, conducts criminal investigations and assists local law enforcement agencies. HIGHWAY PATROL DUTIES The agency has specific jurisdiction over all California State Routes , U.S. Highways and Interstate Highways , and also serves as a statewide patrol force, especially in unincorporated and lightly populated areas of the state. Its officers enforce the provisions of the California Vehicle Code (especially the prohibition on Speeding ), pursue fugitives spotted on the highways, and attend to all significant obstructions and accidents within their jurisdiction. They patrol in various vehicles including Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptors, Chevrolet Camaro s, BMW R1150RT-P motorcycles, airplanes, and helicopters. The CHP has a fleet of 73 Chevrolet Camaro s, which are used for commercial vehicle patrols CHP officers are responsible for investigating and disposing of Car Accident s, debris, Dead Animals and anything else that may be impeding the free flow of traffic. They are often the first government officials at the scene of an accident (or other obstruction), and in turn summon Paramedic s, Tow Truck drivers or Caltrans personnel as required. CHP officers often run what are known as Traffic Break s to enable other officers ahead to clean up accidents or obstructions safely. This is done by the officer activating his unit's rear or overhead flashing lights, waiting for surrounding traffic to drop back, and then swerving back and forth across all lanes of the freeway to gently force the traffic behind him to slow or to stop. SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES The CHP also publishes data on traffic accidents in California from a database called SWITRS ( Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System ). After the September 11, 2001 Attacks the CHP became responsible for securing and patrolling all suspected terrorist targets in the State of California. These sites include the Bay Bridge , nuclear power plants, government buildings, and key Infrastructure sites. They also maintain a SWAT team on 24 hour stand-by to respond to any terrorist activity. ORGANIZATION
TRADITIONS CHP uniforms are traditionally khaki-colored with campaign hat and blue and gold trouser stripe. The dress uniform includes a green jacket and bright blue tie (motorcycle officers wear a bow tie), and cold weather and utility uniforms are dark blue Coveralls . Standard patrol vehicles are required by state law to be painted black with white doors and roof, with a replica of the CHP badge on the sides and the words HIGHWAY PATROL on the back. Special low-profile Chevrolet Camaros joined the CHP fleet in the early 2000s, painted white and sporting a thin, flat LED Light Bar rather than the traditional multi-bubble unit. These pursuit cars were designated for enforcement of Trucking laws but are also used for general patrol duties. The California Highway Patrol is one of the few organizations to continue to use the older Toll-free " Zenith 1-2000" number. With the falling cost of Telephone Area Code 800, 888 etc. numbers, most organizations have chosen to switch to one of the newer numbers and discontinue use of the Zenith service which requires operator assistance. Like any statewide law enforcement agency, the CHP has developed certain colorful traditions such as its own system of Radio Codes widely adopted by local agencies. The most important is 11-99 (officer needs emergency assistance or officer down). In 1981 , a charitable foundation (the 11-99 Foundation ) was founded to provide benefits and scholarships to officers and their families. CODE OF HONOR The CHP has a code of honor. It states: I, a member of the California Highway Patrol, subscribe in word and deed to the following: "To serve the United States of America and the State of California honestly, and conscientiously; and fulfill my oath as a soldier of the law; To uphold and maintain the honor and integrity of the California Highway Patrol; Be loyal to my fellow officers; respect and obey my seniors in rank; and enforce the law without fear, favor, or discrimination; Assist those in peril or distress, and, if necessary, lay down my life rather than swerve from the path of duty; My personal conduct shall at all times be above reproach and I will never knowingly commit any act that will in any way bring discredit upon the California Highway Patrol or any member thereof; To all of this I do solemnly pledge my sacred honor as an Officer of the California Highway Patrol." FALLEN OFFICERS Since its formation in 1929 209 CHP Officers have been killed in the line of duty. The 3 most common causes of line of duty deaths to date are (in order): Automobile/Motorcycle Accidents; Gunfire; Vehicular Assault (i.e., struck by drunk driver, reckless driving or otherwise impaired drivers). The CHP suffered a loss of six officers between September 2005 and February 2006, making that one of the worst periods in CHP history. 1. Officer David Romero: September 23, 2005 Officer Romero was killed in a traffic accident in City Of Industry, California . He was struck by a car driven by a person who was under the influence of narcotics. 2. Officer Andy Stevens: November 17, 2005 Officer Stevens was shot and killed during a traffic stop on a county road near Woodland, California . The suspect fled the scene and was arrested the next day in Placer County, California . 3. Officer Erick Manny: December 21, 2005 Officer Manny was killed while pursuing a vehicle travelling 100mph, near Lebec, California . Officer Manny's patrol car ran off the road and overturned, killing him. The suspect that Officer Manny was pursuing is still at large. 4. Lt. Michael Walker: December 31, 2005 Lt. Walker was struck and killed by a car on rain-soaked Highway 17 near Santa Cruz, California while at the scene of an accident. 5. Officer Earl Scott: February 17, 2006 Officer Scott was shot and killed during a traffic stop in Ripon, California . The suspect fled the scene and later surrendered in Stockton, California . 6. Officer Gregory John Bailey: February 25, 2006 Officer Bailey was struck and killed by a drunk driver while on a traffic stop in Hesperia, California . Newhall Incident The darkest day in the patrol's history was April 6 , 1970 , when four CHP officers, Officers James Pence, Roger Gore, Walt Frago, and George Alleyn, were gunned down in less than five minutes in Newhall, California (CHP History) . Two officers, Officers Frago and Gore, initially stopped men in a vehicle for brandishing a weapon. Before the officers could approach, they came under fire and both were killed. Two additional officers, Officers Pence and Alleyn, responding to the incident were fired upon before they could see either the downed officers or the suspects. The officers wounded one of the suspects but succumbed to their injuries. One of the suspects was caught in the ensuing search of the area, and the other suspect committed suicide. The tragic loss at Newhall led to major reforms in training procedures, firearms use, and arrest techniques. The Newhall Incident has since become an important part of the training of all law enforcement officers. It was the beginning of the term "officer safety" (''i.e.'', "You will train how you will fight as you will fight how you train.") MERGERS On July 12 , 1995 , the California State Police , which was a separate agency, was merged into the CHP, thus greatly expanding the agency's mandate. In addition to safety on the state highway system, it is now responsible for the safety of all elected state officials and all people who work in or are utilizing a state building in California, such as the State Capitol Building in Sacramento . MEDIA REFERENCES '' CHiPs '' was a fictional television drama show of the 1970s about the CHP, and the CHP also helped out in the 1955 TV show ''Highway Patrol'' starring Broderick Crawford . EXTERNAL LINKS
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