Connecticut State Police

On May 29, 1903, the Connecticut State Police was founded, thus the Centennial Celebration for this pioneer state law enforcement agency was in 2003.

Five state police commissioners were appointed to lay the groundwork for the first state police department. In October of the same year, Thomas F. Egan was named the agency's first superintendent. He was empowered to appoint the first state police officers. He chose five and their primary duties were to enforce laws pertaining to intoxicating liquor and gaming violations as were the mandates of most early state police agencies at the time.

By 1913, the department numbered 15 state police officers and in 1923 there were 80. Between 1921 and 1924, seven barracks were established outside of Hartford with one or two officers manning each of these "sub-stations."

During the 1940's, the CSP embarked on a public relations campaign and used clearly-marked cruisers to remind motorists of police presence. The CSP divided state areas into divisions which encompassed 11 stations, and established six advanced and specialized units. The uniform was redesigned and national profile was given to the Bureau of Identification, the forerunner of the present-day, state of the art Forensics Lab.

Polygraph, Connecticut On-Line Law Enforcement Communication Teleprocessing, Canine Unit, Firearms Range, and D.A.R.E. (training of state and local officers in drug awareness) are among other features added by the department over the years.

Connecticut State Flag

On a field of azure blue is an ornamental white shield with
three grapevines, each bearing three bunches of purple grapes.
The states motto "He who Transplanted Sustains Us" is displayed
on a white ribbon. The vines stand for the first settlements of
English people who began to move from Massachusetts
in the 1630's. These settlements were thought of as grapevines
that had been transplanted.

These plates are 10 1/2 inches by 6 inches and were not
mounted as regular license plates on State Police vehicles.
They were made with a steel frame with two round 3/8 inch
downward arms centered on the bottom of the plate that
were 7 inches apart and extended down from the bottom
of the plate about 6 inches. These plates were used from
around 1937 until 1958.
Contact Norm if you one for sale or trade.
Plate courtesy of the Ted Evangelous Collection
Technical data courtesy of Joel Finn

Picture courtesy of Norman Rhoades

This photo shows typical arrangement of license plate and
agency title plate of the late 1930's and into the early 1950's.
This example is a close-up of the license plates as seen on the
rear of Retired CSP Trooper Dean Hammond's fully restored
1941 Ford CSP patrol car as shown to the right.
The Emergency First Aid "add-on" issued by the American Red
Cross was seen on the patrol cars of many other State Police and
Patrol agencies at that time and right up into the 1970's. This
particular one appears to be made with porcelain enamel.
Courtesy of the collection of
Trooper Dean Hammond Connecticut State Police (Ret)

Picture courtesy of Trooper Dean Hammond Connecticut State Police (Ret)

The inspiration for this restoration project
was the March 24, 1945 cover of
the Saturday Evening Post.
That cover can be seen by clicking here!

Connecticut State Police change over license plates, early 1954.
Click image for the full size picture.

Picture courtesy of Sgt. Jerry Longo
Connecticut State Police (Ret.)

1954-1966 issue- reflective title plate
(Approx 10 1/2" x 6") phased out during 1965 & 1966.
Used on grille and/or trunk.
Plate courtesy of the Robert Ward Collection

Circa 1964-1969 "cloverleaf" shield. Ornately cut heavy gauge
aluminum (Approx 11.75" x 10.5") First-issue cloverleaf as it
did not bear any white border as later red cloverleaf shields did.
This type would have been used concurrent with newer cloverleaf
shields issued after 1964. Believed to have been used "rear only.

We are looking for a picture showing
this type plate on duty....
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Circa 1965 -early 70's "cloverleaf"shield. Ornately cut heavy
gauge aluminum (Approx 11.75" x 10.5") Reflective
yellow/gold over reflective blue with yellow/gold border.
Flip-side of white over red "cloverleaf" shield pictured below.
Plate courtesy of the Robert Ward Collection

Picture courtesy of Sgt. Jerry Longo
Connecticut State Police (Ret.)

Circa 1967-early 70's "cloverleaf"shield. Ornately cut heavy
gauge aluminum (Approx 11.75" x 10.5") Reflective white
over reflective red with white border.
Shows mounting bracket posts.

Pictures courtesy of Sgt. Jerry Longo
Connecticut State Police (Ret.)

Circa 1967-early 70's "cloverleaf"shield. Ornately cut heavy
gauge aluminum (Approx 11.75" x 10.5") Reflective white
over reflective red with white border. Flip-side of yellow/gold
over blue "cloverleaf" shield pictured above.
Plate courtesy of the Robert Ward Collection

Connecticut State Police bomb truck
Picture courtesy of Sgt. Jerry Longo
Connecticut State Police (Ret.)

Late 1960's "cloverleaf" shield.
Also used in 1980's as per photo to the right.
Ornately cut heavy gauge
aluminum (Approx 11.75" x 10.5") Reflective yellow/gold over
non-reflective dark blue. Lettering for word STATE is narrower
and spaced further apart than earlier version.

Picture courtesy of Sgt Glenn Pianka
Connecticut State Police (Ret.)

1960's "cloverleaf" shield for CSP Surgeon. Ornately cut heavy
gauge aluminum (Approx 11.75" x 10.5") Reflective
yellow/gold over non-reflective dark blue. CSP Surgeons were
essentially coroners/medical examiners who would primarily
attend incidents involving fatalities.
Shows mounting bracket posts.

Circa 1965 -early 70's "cloverleaf"shield. Ornately cut heavy
gauge aluminum (Approx 11.75" x 10.5") Reflective
yellow/gold over reflective blue with yellow/gold border.
Provided primarily as a professional courtesy to clergy associated
to the CSP. Some Chaplains still have a "quasi- official"
capacity with the CSP when presiding over CSP ceremonies such
as Academy graduations and police funerals.
Picture courtesy of Bill Ceravola

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this type plate on duty....
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Circa 1967 issue "cloverleaf"shield. Ornately cut heavy gauge
aluminum (Approx 11.75" x 10.5") Bright reflective white over
reflective red. Provided primarily as a professional courtesy to
physicians associated to the CSP. As seen in photograph to the
right, some of these cloverleaf shields (although VERY FEW)
can still be seen on the roads.

Picture courtesy of Trooper Dean Hammond
Connecticut State Police (Ret)

Circa 1967 issue "cloverleaf"shield. Ornately cut heavy gauge
aluminum (Approx 11.75" x 10.5") Bright reflective white over
reflective red. Provided primarily as a professional courtesy to
clergy associated to the CSP. Some Chaplains still have a
"quasi- official" capacity with the CSP when presiding over
CSP ceremonies such as Academy graduations,
and police funerals.
Plate courtesy of the John Yeaw Collection

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this type plate on duty....
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Spring of 1971 to 1972 issue- the CSP commissioned solid medium blue Ford cruisers and began using these LONG (7" x 30") reflective white over red aluminum shields below the truck lid on the rear of the patrol car. Smaller shield used on the front.

Picture courtesy of Sgt. Jerry Longo
Connecticut State Police (Ret.)

1973-1975 issue- the CSP went to light blue Plymouths for two years. LONG (7" x 30") reflective white over red aluminum shields were mounted via hooks below the truck lid on the rear of the patrol car. It was also around this time, that the CSP introduced the white over red light bar signs.
Plate courtesy of the Dean Hammond Collection
Connecticut State Police (Ret)

Picture courtesy of Sgt Glenn Pianka
Connecticut State Police (Ret.)

Early 1970's- (Approx 7" X 11") reflective white over reflective
red, all flat grille plate. Possibly used on front of car while
longer 7" x 30" plate used on rear of patrol car.

Picture courtesy of Sgt Glenn Pianka
Connecticut State Police (Ret.)

Picture courtesy of Sgt Glenn Pianka
Connecticut State Police (Ret.)

Picture courtesy of Sgt Glenn Pianka
Connecticut State Police (Ret.)

1990 Special-order plates made by Connecticut Correctional Industries.

In 1990, Sgt Glenn Pianka was a Sergeant out of Troop "D" in Danielson, and made contact with CCI after a joint project four years earlier between the company and the 200th Anniversary Committee for the town of Bozrah CT, of which Sgt Pianka was a member. CCI had helped to produce Bicentennial license plates for the event.

Sgt Pianka thought it would be a neat idea and a morale booster to have specially-made CSP license plates manufactured with badge numbers of CSP personnel on this attractive keepsake. There was a bit of reluctance on the part of CCI at first, but eventually the company agreed to produce these plates since they were going to be for state troopers after all.

These embossed aluminum plates were sold for $10 a pair, and Sgt Pianka received many orders from troopers and other ranking members of the CSP. Sales were restricted to CSP personnel only, and it was made clear from the outset that these plates were to be used solely as display items and not to be affixed to any vehicle, CSP or otherwise.

150 of these plates were sold, and a few "special" one-of-a-kind plates for Sgt Pianka were made (hey, why not?- It was HIS idea!) including a reverse-colored (blue over white) version with his trooper badge number 868, and another in the white over blue with CSP SGT featured above. Some like the # 860 plate featured no state silhouette.

Unfortunately, as with most police agencies, fun ideas get extinguished quickly and THIS fun had come to an abrupt end when CSP management decided to put a stop to the endeavor. Sgt Pianka was ordered not to obtain or distribute anymore of the "unauthorized" plates, however it is still not known who the author of the execution was. The decision to put an end to a promotional souvenir of pride by the very management of the same organization got many people upset, particularly those who were awaiting their order to be completed.

Statetrooperplates.com thanks Retired Sgt Glenn Pianka for sharing this historical piece of information for the hobby and salutes his valiant attempt to "show the pride" of belonging to the Connecticut State Police with such a noble item.

The Connecticut State Police currently use
regular passenger plates on their cruisers.

Confirmed passenger plate used by the Ct SP
(See registraion on the right)
Picture courtesy of Robert Ward

Picture courtesy of Robert Ward

Early 1980's issue- Connecticut SP Dog Handlers were
permitted to use these special K9 license plates on
the front of their patrol cars. Regular plates on rear.

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this type plate on duty....
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Early 1980's issue- Connecticut SP Dog Handlers were
permitted to use these special K9 license plates on
the front of their patrol cars. Regular plates on rear.

We are looking for a picture showing
this type plate on duty....
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Early 1980's issue- Connecticut SP Dog Handlers were
permitted to use these special K9 license plates on
the front of their patrol cars. Regular plates on rear.

We are looking for a picture showing
this type plate on duty....
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1980's/90's- Front plate used on
Emergency Services Unit trucks
Courtesy of Nick Leary

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this type plate on duty....
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Circa 2001- Trunk Placard

Circa 2001- K-9 Unit Trunk Placard
Picture courtesy of Bill Ceravola

Picture courtesy of Trooper Nick Leary
Connecticut State Police

Circa 2001- Trunk Placard, Rank of Major

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Circa 1973-early 1980's light bar signs (Approx 4" x 14" each)
These signs were affixed to the rooftop light bar on either side of
the rotator light . The signs were also marked on the backside so
that STATE POLICE could be read from the front and the
rear of the car.
Click here to read an entertaining historical anecdote on the early roof racks used by the CSP

Circa 1979- late 1980's light bar signs Approx 4" x 14"
each) These signs were affixed to the rooftop light bar on
either side of the rotator light . The signs were also
marked on the backside so that STATE POLICE
could be read from the front and the rear of the car.

1990's- Light bar insert (Approx. 3" X 13") fits into center of low- rise light-bar assembly.

1985 Trunk Magnets- White over red vinyl (6" x 14")
Experimental trial use which was quickly discontinued

Picture courtesy of Sgt. Glenn Pianka
Connecticut State Police (Ret.)

Identification sign from the side of
Emergency Services Unit truck-
Usage from 1950's into the 1970's
Courtesy of Nick Leary

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this type plate on duty....
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Identification sign from the side of
Emergency Services Unit truck-
Usage from 1950's into the 1970's
Courtesy of Nick Leary

We are looking for a picture showing
this type plate on duty....
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Motorcycle plate - Circa 1929
3" X 9" 'STATE POLICE'
embossed in white over red base.
Used on the Henderson Excelsior of
State Police Officer John Doyle
Picture courtesy of Sgt. Jerry Longo
Connecticut State Police (Ret.)

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The Patrol MV Dept #1 plate - these were used starting in 1946 through 1956. While the MVD was renamed as the DMV in 1921 the old term is still in use today. RARE!
Plate courtesy of the John Yeaw Collection

Motor Vehicle Inspector plate
Flat aluminum, reflectorized gold on dark blue, 6x12
Plate courtesy of the Adam Garstka Collection

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this type plate on duty....
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Not certain if this is a Connecticut issue-
Embossed steel- White over dark blue. Confirmation needed
Courtesy of Nick Leary

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this type plate on duty....
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While not technically a CSP license plate,
this particular dash plate was once used
by a CSP representative on court business

Special Centennial commemorative plate commissioned
by CSP Association. Not an official issue. This plate was given
to all CSP personnel that attended the 100th Anniversary Ball
in 2003 at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, CT.
Courtesy of the Bob Bruce Collection