Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1921-05-19
LEGISLATURE
DOUBLES STATE
POLICE FORCE
NEW LAW PROVIDES ADEQUATE
MEANS FOR PROTECTING LIFE
AND PROPERTY IN WEST
VIRGINIA
Increased Pay Attracts Many Recruits
of Desirable Class-serVice Men
Get Preference.

The West Virginia Legislature de.
livered the death blow to outlawry IN
this state when it passed, by an almos,
two to one vote, Senate Bill No. IA
which authorizes the West Virginia
State Police to recruit up TO a maxi
mum strength of 2S9 officers and men,
at the same time increasing all sal.
aries approximately % per cent. It
doubles the size OF the present state
police force and will permit the estab
lishment OF a state police post in ev-
cry district in the state.
The new bill gives the Department
OF Public Safety four companies OF
state police instead OF two. Each
company will be commanded by a cap
tain and a lieutenant and will consist
OF first sergeant, five sergeants,
eight corporals and not less than 80
or more than 55 privates. Two of
the companies, II is understood, will
be mounted. This can be accomplish
cd without heavy additional expense
inasmuch as both of the present COM
panies rank as mounted organizations
poooSooihS a &c vi ScS.
The West Virginia State Police at
present numbers 81 officers and men.
Within the next three or four months
however about 100 recruits will be
taken into the department. The new
police officers will be chosen from a
list Of several times that many appli.
cants. AS predicted, the increased
| alar Ind tIn col
airy Is now 500 a MONTHS attract
ing the best young men in the state
and this permits Colonel Jackson Ar
mold, superintendent OF the West Vir-
ginia State Police to carefully pick
his troopers. selecting only men OF
the highest type, physically, mentally
and morally.
Cost to Be $3.50
Basing figures upon the maintain
ance cost last year, Colonel Arnold
estimates that the actual cost of the
increased organization will not ex-
| coed $225,000 annually, very likely
falling short of this figure. The bill
carries no fixed appropriation. The
present state police appropriation is
$225,000 Of which only 100000 was
spent in 1920.
field organization, similar to that
Of the Pennsylvania and New York
police organizations will be worked
out.
The establishment of fixed posts in
every district to work in connection
with the sheriffs' offices not only gives
every section a powerful force for the
hunting down and prevention of crime,
but materially reduces maintenance
expenses inasmuch as the larger force
eliminates the necessity of moving
men from one section of the state to
another.
Service Men Preferred.
In the recruiting Of the larger state
police force. preference will be given
men who have seen servic in the
army, navy or the marines. Col Jack
son Arnold and all OF his officers and
men are overseas veterans and every
effort will be made to fill the ranks
with men who have served their coun-
try in time of stress.
| III you are young man between the
ages of 81 and As; il you are intelli-
gent. honest and law abiding; If YOU
desire to live clean moral life in the
great outdoors: IL your name is en-
graved on the honor roll of your coun.
try; II you are strong and healthy and
willing to enforce the law OF the land
without thought Of personal sacrifice
then you possess all of the desired
qualifications of a West Virginia
State Policeman and you will be more
than welcome to cast your lot with
the other splendid young men of this
organization.