Alabama Highway Patrol

Establishment Governor Bibb Graves established Alabama's first statewide law enforcement agency on December 5, 1935. The Alabama Highway Patrol began with twelve motorcycle officers. The Alabama Highway Patrol evaluated two versions supplied by Reinhardt AMC of Montgomery, Alabama: a 1971 AMC Javelin SST with a V8 and a 1971 Javelin-AMX with a V8 engine. Because they were so different than the traditional police cars, the Javelin AMX "was the most abused police car in the history of Alabama". The "401-cu.in. V-8, three-speed automatic and 2.87 gears were good for about 140 mph, by which point the nose of the car started to get rather light". After this trial, the first order was for 61 cars finished in silver and ten unmarked cars in various colors. Due to further cost-cutting reasons, they were base model Javelins with heavy-duty "fleet" equipment, "machine wheels" with Goodyear Polyglas raised-white-lettered tires, and rear spoilers (factory available only on Javelin AMX models) to display the "state trooper" markings on the rear of each car. The Javelins came with AMC V8 engines. The cars had a 1st-gear lock-out feature installed by state maintenance The last of the AMC Javelins was retired in 1979, and one of the original cars is now part of the Museum at DPS Headquarters. == James Fowler ==

Trooper James Bonard Fowler became a significant player in escalating the acute racial conflict that led to the Selma to Montgomery marches in the civil rights movement. As a corporal in the Alabama State Police in 1965, he shot and killed an unarmed black man, Jimmie Lee Jackson, but was not prosecuted and convicted for the killing until 45 years later. In a later incident, he shot and killed an unarmed black man by the name of Nathan Johnson. Johnson had been arrested for suspicion of drunken driving on U.S. Highway 31 and was fatally shot by Fowler at the Alabaster, Alabama Police Department. == Weapons issued ==

The currently issued sidearms for Alabama state troopers include the Glock 17 Gen 5 and the Glock 45, which are both chambered in 9mm. Additional weapons provided to troopers include the Bushmaster M4-type carbine rifle and the Benelli M4 police magnum shotgun. Less-than-lethal weapons include OC (pepper) spray, ASP collapsible batons, and tasers. ==Troops==

The Alabama Highway Patrol's troops cover the following counties as listed: == Rank structure ==

The Alabama Department of Public Safety has a paramilitary rank structure and the rank structure is as listed: == See also ==