Then: Horses were the main mode of transportation for troopers in 1917 and the department's entire motor fleet consisted of four unmarked staff cars, two supply trucks and an armored truck.
Now: The MSP fleet contains over 2,220 vehicles with a variety of makes, models and purposes. The fleet also includes dive boats, helicopters and motorcycles.
Then: Two-man mounted detachments rode daily patrols of 15 to 35 miles, returning to their barracks each night.
Now: Troopers on average drive over 125 miles during daily patrols.
Then: In 1917, troopers wore a khaki and forest green uniform consisting of military tunics with breeches, leather puttees, and a Campaign-style hat or a Stetson.
Now: Troopers wear a dark blue and grey uniform that became the standard in 1961, and a Campaign-style hat recently added in recognition of the department’s 100th Anniversary.
Then: In 1917, troopers checked for telegram messages at the post office of each town they visited.
Now: Troopers communicate using smartphones, mobile data computers and 800 MHz radios.
Then: Capt. Ira H. Marmon opened a Bureau of Investigation and Identification at the East Lansing Headquarters in 1919 using a primitive fingerprint records file in an old shoebox that he stored under his barracks cot next to his desk.
Now: Fingerprint records are stored in the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) database, which contains over 3.6 million records.
Then: In 1918, troopers rendered aid in six automobile wrecks.
Now: In 2016, troopers rendered aid in 43,488 traffic crashes.
Then: In 1918, troopers made 2,937 arrests.
Now: In 2016, troopers made 72,695 arrests.
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