Service, Courtesy, and Protection

The State of Kansas primary law enforcement agency is the Kansas Highway Patrol

(KHP). The KHP has as its motto, “Service, Courtesy, and Protection.” You may only be

aware of the function of patrolling the State’s roads, however the duties of the Highway

Patrol are more encompassing than ticketing for driving violations.

Preventing unsafe driving incidents by reducing the number of high-speed drivers and

removing intoxicated drivers from the roadway helps keep us all safer. The removal of

fentanyl and other dangerous drugs through traffic stops is key to reducing the illegal

narcotics in our State. The KHP utilizes K-9 units to assist in locating illegal drugs.

When an accident does occur the KHP will be there to direct traffic, provide emergency

services, and determine accident cause. For more than 80 years the Patrol has been

keeping our roads safe, but they also perform other critical functions.

The security force at the State Capitol is a division of the KHP. The wonderful team of

troopers not only enforce laws in the Capitol, they also secure entry into the building. In

addition, the Highway Patrol transports the Governor and provides gubernatorial safety.

The Commercial Motor Vehicle Division is charged with keeping commercial vehicles

safe and in compliance with the state’s trucking laws. The Patrol also has an aviation

component that uses aircraft to keep our highways safe and motorists in compliance

with regulations. When there is an emergency, the communications network of the

Highway Patrol is especially critical.

In Salina, the KHP maintains a dispatch center for the entire state of Kansas. The

antiquated and crowded facilities are scheduled to be replaced by a new center after we

in the legislature appropriated funding for a new center last year. The central location of

Salina, with access to two major interstates, makes it the ideal location for not only the

dispatch operation, but also the training for the addition of new recruits to the Highway

Patrol.

The KHP actually has three divisions (called Troops) located in Salina. Troop C patrols

the highways and provides law enforcement in North Central Kansas. Troop J provides

training and continuing education for all the highway patrol in Kansas. Troop M provides

dispatching and communications for all the highway patrol in Kansas.

The buildings currently housing the patrol are inadequate and antiquated. Currently,

Troop M is scheduled for a new building in South Salina. I will be encouraging the

legislature to fund an additional facility to house troop C. Furthermore, I am supporting

the idea of moving the training of troopers to the K-State Salina Campus. The KHP

should continue to be a strong presence in Salina and continue to keep central Kansas

safe.