Missouri State Highway Patrol - Service and Protection

Missouri State Highway Patrol
The Missouri State Highway Patrol was created in 1931 by an act of the 56th Missouri General Assembly. Although this new Highway Patrol's authorized strength was set at 125 uniformed officers, due to limited appropriations, the Patrol began with 55 officers and a handful of civilians. In 1932, the small and new force of patrolmen made over 38,000 arrests, recovered 381 stolen vehicles, arrested 14 bank robbers and solved several murders. The Patrol operated as an independent agency under the control of the executive branch until the Omnibus State Reorganization Act of 1974 made it a division of the Department of Public Safety. The MSHP patrols out of nine Troops which are divided into zones throughout the Show Me State. Since its inception in 1931, the Missouri State Highway Patrol has evolved from simply a highway patrolling force to a full-service, accredited law enforcement agency. While enforcing traffic laws and promoting safety on Missouri's approximately 33,000 miles of state- maintained highways remains the Patrol's primary responsibility, the Patrol has been tasked by the Governor and the legislature with many additional law enforcement duties including: motor vehicle inspection, commercial vehicle enforcement, driver's license examinations, criminal investigations, criminal laboratory analysis and research, public education, gaming enforcement, law enforcement training, and more. In 1992 the Missouri State Highway Patrol became only the 10th State Police/Highway Patrol to receive accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. This accreditation demonstrates the Patrol's commitment to professionalism and acceptance of high standards of excellence in law enforcement. This process also provides an ongoing evaluation of the Patrol's policies and procedures so that it may continue to grow and improve in the future. By the 2000s the Missouri State Highway Patrol has grown to include more than 1,400 uniformed civilians and support staff, and 1,100 uniformed members.
Missouri State Flag Centered on red, white and blue fields is the Missouri state seal. It is encircled by a blue band with twenty-four stars representing the number of states in 1821. The stars in the inner circle have the same meaning. Two huge grizzly bears support the circular shield in the center which has three parts: The motto "United We Stand, Divided we Fall", the right section representing the United States and the left section containing a moon representing a new state and a grizzly bear standing for courage.
*1932 issue* Please note that this plate is the EXACT same license plate as seen on the period "on duty" photo to the right. Not only can this be confirmed by the registration number, but also by the positioning of the fashioned "extra" mounting holes on the center edges of the plate where you can see it was mounted to the horizontal bar which supported the car's headlights! Doesn't get much better than this, folks! Plate courtesy of the Missouri State Highway Patrol Museum Collection Photo courtesy of Sgt. Tom Breen, MSHP	Picture courtesy of the Missouri State Highway Patrol
*1933 issue* Plate courtesy of the Missouri State Highway Patrol Museum Collection Photo courtesy of Sgt. Tom Breen, MSHP	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
1934 issue- Third year for MSHP license plates. (Approx 7"x12")	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
*1935 issue* Plate courtesy of the Missouri State Highway Patrol Museum Collection Photo courtesy of Sgt. Tom Breen, MSHP	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
*1936 issue* Plate courtesy of the Missouri State Highway Patrol Museum Collection Photo courtesy of Sgt. Tom Breen, MSHP	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
*1937 issue* Plate courtesy of the Missouri State Highway Patrol Museum Collection Photo courtesy of Sgt. Tom Breen, MSHP	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
*1938 issue* Plate courtesy of the Missouri State Highway Patrol Museum Collection Photo courtesy of Sgt. Tom Breen, MSHP	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
*1939 issue* Plate courtesy of the Missouri State Highway Patrol Museum Collection Photo courtesy of Sgt. Tom Breen, MSHP	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
*1940 issue* Plate courtesy of the Missouri State Highway Patrol Museum Collection Photo courtesy of Sgt. Tom Breen, MSHP	Picture courtesy of the Missouri State Highway Patrol
*1941 issue* Plate courtesy of the Missouri State Highway Patrol Museum Collection Photo courtesy of Sgt. Tom Breen, MSHP	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
1942 issue Plate courtesy of the Missouri State Highway Patrol Museum Photo courtesy of Sgt Tom Breen, MSHP	Photo courtesy of Sgt Tom Breen, MSHP
*1947* *issue* Plate courtesy of the Missouri State Highway Patrol Museum Collection Photo courtesy of Sgt. Tom Breen, MSHP	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
*1948 issue* Plate courtesy of the Missouri State Highway Patrol Museum Collection Photo courtesy of Sgt. Tom Breen, MSHP
*1949 issue* Believed to be last dated issue for MSHP plates Plate courtesy of the Missouri State Highway Patrol Museum Collection Photo courtesy of Sgt. Tom Breen, MSHP	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
Circa 1950-1955 issue (Definitely pre-1956 as dimensions do not appear to be 6"x12") Any clarification on issuance dates would be greatly appreciated (Not to mention: so would one of these for my collection!) Plate courtesy of the Missouri State Highway Patrol Museum Collection Photo courtesy of Sgt. Tom Breen, MSHP	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
Circa 1956-1960's issue. Based on dimensions and color type that was used on regular Missouri plates of the day. Any clarification on issuance dates would be greatly appreciated (Not to mention: so would one of these for my collection!) Plate courtesy of the Missouri State Highway Patrol Museum Collection Photo courtesy of Sgt. Tom Breen, MSHP	Picture courtesy of the Missouri State Highway Patrol
Circa 1965-1967 issue. PAS was prefix for "PASSENGER CAR". It is said that TRK was used for MSHP trucks and TRL was used for MSHP trailers. Based on colors/die types of regular passenger plates of that time frame. Any clarification on issuance dates would be greatly appreciated (Not to mention: so would one of these for my collection!) Plate courtesy of the Missouri State Highway Patrol Museum Photo courtesy of Sgt Tom Breen, MSHP	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
Circa 1968-1969 issue. Based on color of regular passenger plates of Missouri in 1968. Any clarification on issuance dates would be greatly appreciated (Not to mention: so would one of these for my collection!) Plate courtesy of the Missouri State Highway Patrol Museum Collection Photo courtesy of Sgt. Tom Breen, MSHP	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
Circa 1970-1971 issue. Based on color of regular passenger plates of Missouri in 1970. Any clarification on issuance dates would be greatly appreciated (Not to mention: so would one of these for my collection!) Plate courtesy of the Missouri State Highway Patrol Museum Collection Photo courtesy of Sgt. Tom Breen, MSHP	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
*1971 issue- Embossed steel- white over maroon* Photo Courtesy of Larry B. Niederschulte	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
Circa 1972-1975 issue- Embossed steel.	Picture courtesy of Eric Prince
Circa 1975-1979 issue with "OFFICIAL CAR" added. Any clarification on issuance dates would be greatly appreciated (Not to mention: so would one of these for my collection!) Plate courtesy of the Missouri State Highway Patrol Museum Collection Photo courtesy of Sgt. Tom Breen, MSHP	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
Circa 1979-1980 issue- Embossed steel	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
1980-Circa 1983 issue- Embossed steel	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
Circa 1983-1989 issue-	Picture courtesy of Eric Prince
*1989-1996 issue- These issues ran into 2000 as well.*	Picture courtesy of Jay Weinstein
1996-Current issue~Senior Command Staff. This is the earlier issue which used a dash to separate the assignment number and the HP suffix. Also had little dark corner edge marks from where the screen design layout had been trimmed. In addition, the white line set under the state bar code extended into the lower left bolt-hole where the later issues stopped short of the hole.	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
1996-2008 Although the passenger plate of this style came out in 1996, it is believed that the MSHP began using it around 2000.
2008-Current Issue	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
1934 Missouri State Patrol Motorcycle plate assigned to Clyde Kinder, an original member of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. RARE!! Plate Courtesy of Missouri State Highway Patrol Museum Photo Courtesy of Sgt Tom Breen, MSHP	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
Motorcycle plate from the 1970's The MSHP disbanded their Motor Unit in 1979	Picture courtesy of the Missouri State Highway Patrol
*Motorcycle plate* Current Issue Photo Courtesy of Sgt Tom Breen, MSHP	Photo Courtesy of Sgt Tom Breen, MSHP
NTC Souvenir Plate created my MSHP Association. Year unknown (1990's). Completely silk-screened. Courtesy of the John Yeaw Collection
2006 75th Anniversary front "booster" plate. Embossed light aluminum.