St 1919, c 350, ss 99-110 established the Massachusetts Dept. of Public Safety under the supervision and control of a commissioner, to exercise and perform the functions of the District Police Force and related bodies (RL 1902, c 108), and to include a Division of State Police under immediate charge of the commissioner. Like the District Police, the State Police had and exercised throughout the Commonwealth the powers of constables (except as to service of civil process) and of police, and its services could be commanded by the governor in suppressing riots and in preserving the peace (GL 1921, c 147, s 2)--powers extended to officers and inspectors of the department generally per St 1921, c 164. While the State Police continued the detective functions of the District Police, that body's inspection and fire prevention powers were delegated to separate divisions (GL 1921, c 22, s 3)
As of July 1992, when the division was to be merged with the Metropolitan Police, Capitol Police, and Registry Police as the Dept. of State Police (per St 1991, c 412), its powers included patrol coverage for the state highway system, state properties, and rural areas lacking local police services; traffic law enforcement and management; criminal investigation and intelligence; accident investigation; local police training; and technical services.
The functions of the Dept. of State Police are currently described in MGLA c 22A and c 147.
NAME AUTHORITY NOTE. Series relating to the agencies described above can be found by searching the following access points for the time period stated: 1919-1992--Massachusetts. Division of State Police; 1992-present--Massachusetts. Dept. of State Police.
From the description of Agency history record. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 145429510
