Remembering The Early Years of The Oklahoma Highway Patrol

COPJOBS TM

REMEMBERING THE EARLY YEARS OF THE OKLAHOMA HIGHWAY PATROL

Reprinted from the September 1997 issue of Copjobs magazine

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol was created in 1937, in response to the growing number of automobiles on Oklahoma's roads. Governor Marland named J.M. "Bud" Gentry as Oklahoma's first Commissioner of Public Safety. Gentry traveled to Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, and Pennsylvania to observe their State Police organizations. In the Spring of 1937, Gentry issued a statewide call for recruits. The requirements were that a man had to be at least five feet, nine inches tall, a high school graduate, at least twenty-five years of age and a resident of Oklahoma. During the Great Depression, good benefits and pay lured many young men to sign up. About one thousand men applied to become Oklahoma's first Highway Patrol Troopers. After personal interviews with Gentry, one hundred and forty successful applicants were instructed to report on June 10 to the University of Oklahoma campus in Norman for the first class of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Academy.

The academy's two principle instructors were Maryland State Police Corporal Peterson, and Corporal Tubbs of the Michigan State Police. Both men were veterans of World War I. In addition to organizing the first academy they trained future instructors. Since the OHP did not yet have its own training facilities, cadets had to use various settings, including the University of Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State University. During the initial four weeks of training at O.U., the cadets were quartered in the Masonic Dormitory. At O.S.U. they stayed in Cordell Hall. Strict Military discipline was maintained during the academy. Classroom instruction emphasized motor vehicle laws, accident investigation, public speaking, automobile mechanics, driver examination, basic first aid and, above all, courtesy. Additionally, cadets were instructed in marksmanship, Judo, arrest procedures and, or course, how to fill out the paperwork. Attorney General Mac Q. Williamson taught traffic code. Commissioner Gentry, himself a former race car driver, taught pursuit driving. Motorcycle riding was taught by Oklahoma City Police Officers Leon Foxx and Roy DeShields.

After the initial training, the patrol cars were not ready, so the cadets were transferred to Oklahoma City where they stayed in a hotel. Gentry and his staff chose an office building at Tenth and Broadway for the new Oklahoma Department of Public Safety's Headquarters. The cadets continued their education and training at the headquarters while they waited for their cars.

On July 15, the first eighty-seven OHP Troopers were sent to their assignments. To assure coverage to all of Oklahoma, the state was divided into districts. Early District Headquarters were located in Bartlesville, Enid, Lawton, McAlester, Okmulgee, and Perry. The Bartlesville district was later moved to Claremore. The actual Headquarters for each district was a trailer, equipped with a telephone. The first OHP vehicles were 1937 Ford sedans. Each was equipped with a two gallon gasoline can, a 12 gauge shotgun, a spotlight, a red light, a siren and a ticket book. The cars had no air conditioning, radios or receivers. the first OHP Troopers received most of their calls when they checked in at local police stations. While on the road, if a Trooper needed to communicate with OHP Headquarters he had to find a farm house or store that happened to have a telephone. Sometimes phones were few and far between! At the scene of an accident, if a wrecker was needed, a Trooper would flag down a passing motorist, and ask him to deliver a message to the nearest police station. Occasionally, after a long wait, the Trooper would assume that the motorist had not delivered the message and would request a wrecker through a second motorist, sometimes with the result that two wreckers would arrive!

Early day OHP Troopers also gave driver license exams. If they were giving an exam and they got a call, they would ask the driver to come back later.

The original OHP uniforms were similar in color to those worn today, however they were made of heavy wool. Long sleeves were worn year round. The uniform trousers were of the riding breeches style, and were tucked in to the long black leather boots. The first hats were of the "service station" or "bus driver" style, however these were later replaced with the familiar style worn today. Early Troopers wore long wool coats during the Winter. Over this coat was worn the Sam Browne belt. A cross-draw holster with a flap held the Trooper's only side arm, a .38 revolver. Six extra rounds of ammunition were carried in the loops of the belt's ammo slide.

Within thirty days after the first eighty-seven Troopers hit the highways, a second academy started. Together with the first academy graduates, they made up the state's full compliment of one hundred and twenty-five Troopers.

During their first nine months on the roads of Oklahoma, OHP Troopers issued 288,277 traffic warnings, made 5,518 arrests or citations and performed more than a quarter million disabled motorist assists. Traffic fatalities in Oklahoma were reduced by almost two hundred per year during the OHP's first two years. Commissioner Gentry at first assigned the Troopers to certain highways and roads, but within two months Troopers were assigned to specific counties. This new system allowed the individual OHP Troopers to become familiar with, and accepted by local Sheriffs, judges, attorneys and citizens.

Early Troopers usually rode one to a car during the day, and two to a car at night. Long before "One Trooper, One Car", they often would have only one car in a particular county and it would be shared by several different Troopers.

Today's Oklahoma Highway Patrol Troopers owe a great deal to these pioneer lawmen, as do all Oklahomans. Their sacrifice, perseverance and dedication enabled Oklahoma to establish its modern highways. They brought an end to the lawlessness that marked the first three decades of the Twentieth Century on Oklahoma's roads.

With a total of twelve bullets, and no radio, pepper spray, baton, or backup, it is no wonder that OHP Troopers developed a reputation for toughness. But, additionally, with superior training and exceptional courtesy and professionalism, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol won over a skeptical public. Their authority was accepted. They quickly became the recognized elite agency that they are today.