The Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) is the highway patrol agency for the U.S. state of Kansas. While the patrol's primary focus is maintaining the safety of State, Federal and Interstate highways, it also is charged with providing support for county agencies when tactical, aerial or other specialized services are needed. The Kansas Highway Patrol has statewide jurisdiction, and frequently assists other agencies with emergency calls for service.
History In 2011, the KHP purchased the last-produced Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor for its fleet.
Morale controversy In 2014, amidst many allegations of abuse of power and inconsistent work practices resulting in overall low morale, the University of Kansas School of Business proctored a thorough survey of all KHP Employees that were willing to participate. The results of the survey revealed that the majority held great loyalty to the agency, but believed upper-level command staff needlessly doled out disciplinary actions to those they personally disliked, showed favoritism during promotional processes, and were generally incompetent when it came to making important decisions regarding the overall direction of the patrol. Colonel Ernest Garcia and Lieutenant Colonel Alan Stoecklein were both mentioned by name multiple times in an open-ended section at the end of the survey where employees could comment freely. Kansas State Troopers Association President Mitch Mellick said that the survey revealed concerns that had long been held by troopers across the state regarding labor practices and benefits. Lieutenant Colonel Stoecklein soon thereafter announced his retirement, effective September 15, 2014 and Colonel Ernest Garcia announced he was leaving the agency on January 5, 2015.
Organization The Kansas Highway Patrol is under the direction of the superintendent, who holds the rank of colonel. The superintendent is appointed by the Governor of Kansas. The superintendent appoints an assistant superintendent who holds the rank of lieutenant colonel to assist them. Under the assistant superintendent are five executive commanders who hold the rank of major. These officers comprise the executive command staff of the Patrol.
The Patrol is organized into several divisions, and each are overseen by an executive commander. Each division or region is further divided by its geographical area of responsibility (known as a "troop") or its function. Each troop or functional group is overseen by a commander who holds the rank of captain. Administrative groups are overseen by a civilian director. Each troop is further divided into "zones" of one or several counties. Each zone is overseen by a field supervisor who holds the rank of lieutenant.
+ Kansas Highway Patrol Organization Division Troop Headquarters Major Duties Areas of Responsibility East Region Troop A Olathe, Kansas Law enforcement Kansas City Metropolitan Area: Johnson County, Leavenworth County, Miami County, and Wyandotte County East Region Troop B Topeka, Kansas Law enforcement Northeast Kansas: Atchison County, Brown County, Doniphan County, Douglas County, Franklin County, Jackson County, Jefferson County, Nemaha County, Osage County, Pottawatomie County, Shawnee County, and Wabaunsee County East Region Troop K Topeka, Kansas Capitol Police Kansas State Capitol, Kansas Governor's Mansion, and state properties in Topeka East Region Fleet Operations Topeka, Kansas Vehicle procurement, issue, maintenance, and sales Statewide North Region Troop C Salina, Kansas Law enforcement North central Kansas: Chase County, Clay County, Cloud County, Dickinson County, Ellsworth County, Geary County, Jewell County, Lincoln County, Marion County, Marshall County, McPherson County, Mitchell County, Morris County, Ottawa County, Republic County, Riley County, Saline County, and Washington County North Region Troop D Hays, Kansas Law enforcement Northwest Kansas: Cheyenne County, Decatur County, Ellis County, Gove County, Graham County, Logan County, Norton County, Osborne County, Phillips County, Rawlins County, Rooks County, Russell County, Sheridan County, Sherman County, Smith County, Thomas County, Trego County, and Wallace County North Region Troop G Wichita, Kansas Law enforcement on the Kansas Turnpike I-35 from the Oklahoma state line to Emporia, I-335 from Emporia to Topeka, I-470 in southeastern Topeka, and I-70 from Topeka to Kansas City North Region Troop I Topeka, Kansas Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) and Critical Highway Accident Response Team (CHART) Statewide South Region Troop E Garden City, Kansas Law enforcement Southwest Kansas: Clark County, Comanche County, Edwards County, Finney County, Ford County, Grant County, Gray County, Greeley County, Hamilton County, Haskell County, Hodgeman County, Kearny County, Kiowa County, Lane County, Meade County, Morton County, Ness County, Pawnee County, Rush County, Scott County, Seward County, Stanton County, Stevens County, and Wichita County South Region Troop F Wichita, Kansas Law enforcement South central Kansas: Barber County, Barton County, Butler County, Cowley County, Harper County, Harvey County, Kingman County, Pratt County, Reno County, Rice County, Sedgwick County, Stafford County, and Sumner County South Region Troop H Chanute, Kansas Law enforcement Southeast Kansas: Allen County, Anderson County, Bourbon County, Chautauqua County, Cherokee County, Coffey County, Crawford County, Elk County, Greenwood County, Labette County, Linn County, Lyon County, Montgomery County, Neosho County, Wilson County, and Woodson County South Region Emergency Operations / Homeland Security Topeka, Kansas Administration of the agency's Homeland Security Grant Program Statewide South Region Public and Governmental Affairs Topeka, Kansas Public information, recruiting, research, and legislative representation Statewide South Region Accreditation Topeka, Kansas Establishing CALEA accreditation and maintaining compliance Statewide Training Center Troop J Salina, Kansas Intra-agency training, inter-agency training, and recruit academy Statewide Special Operations Troop S Topeka, Kansas Special Response Team (SRT) and Police Service Dog Unit (PSDU) Statewide Special Operations Troop N Topeka, Kansas Domestic Highway Enforcement Team (DHET), DEA Task Force, Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), Kansas Intelligence Fusion Center (KIFC), and evidence management Statewide Special Operations Troop T Topeka, Kansas Aircraft operations Statewide Communications Troop M Salina, Kansas Communications and CJIS Statewide Administrative Services Troop V Topeka, Kansas Motor vehicle enforcement Statewide Administrative Services Fiscal Management Topeka, Kansas Budgeting and accounting Statewide Administrative Services Human Resources Topeka, Kansas Human resource management Statewide Administrative Services Information Technology Topeka, Kansas Information technology management Statewide Administrative Services Records Topeka, Kansas Records management Statewide Assistant Superintendent's Office Legal Counsel Topeka, Kansas Legal affairs Statewide Superintendent's Office Professional Standards Unit Topeka, Kansas Internal affairs Statewide Superintendent's Office Troop L Topeka, Kansas Protective Services Unit Statewide
Rank structure
TitleInsigniaDescription Superintendent (Colonel) The Superintendent holds the Rank of colonel and is appointed by the Governor of Kansas to be the professional head of the Department Assistant Superintendent (Lieutenant Colonel) The Assistant Superintendent holds the Rank of lieutenant colonel and is second-in-command of Patrol.The Assistant Superintendent is appointed by the Superintendent Major Majors are Regional and Division Commanders Captain Captains are Troop Commanders Lieutenant Lieutenants are First Line Supervisors Technical Trooper Rank held by veteran Troopers assigned to a technical specialty (e.g. Bomb Technicians, Aircraft Pilots, Canine Handlers, Task Force Officers, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement troopers, etc.). Master Trooper Rank attained by Trooper after completion of 5 years of service and completion of advanced professional training. Trooper Rank attained by Recruits upon successful completion of the training academy, responsible for field law enforcement patrol. Trooper Trainee (Recruit) This rank is held by law enforcement officers while attending the KHP training academy.
Pay and pensions Officers of the Kansas Highway Patrol begin their career as trooper trainees in the training academy at a base hourly rate. Upon graduation, a pay increase occurs, followed by another the beginning of their fourth year. Upon their fifth year, troopers are eligible for promotion to Master or Technical Trooper with an accompanying increase in pay. Additional years of service and experience qualify troopers for promotion to lieutenant (pay grade 38), captain (pay grade 40), and major (pay grade 42).
+ Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Pay Structure Rank Time in Rank Pay Pay Grade Pay Step Trooper Trainee During academy training $25.68 per hour 27 14 Trooper 0-3 Years $28.31 per hour 30 12 Trooper 4-5 Years $29.73 per hour 30 14 Master/Technical Trooper 0-3 Years $31.22 per hour 35 6 Master/Technical Trooper 4-5 Years $32.78 per hour 35 8 Master/Technical Trooper 6-8 Years $34.42 per hour 35 10 Master/Technical Trooper 9-10 Years $36.13 per hour 35 12 Master/Technical Trooper 11-13 Years $37.95 per hour 35 14 Master/Technical Trooper 14-15 Years $39.84 per hour 35 16 Master/Technical Trooper 16+ Years $41.81 per hour 35 18
Troopers' retirement is administered by the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS) which provides a defined benefit plan, the Kansas Police and Firemen's Retirement System (KP&F). Contributions are made on a pre-tax basis each pay period, with 7.15% of gross earnings withdrawn automatically. Tier I retirees (those employees who were enrolled in KP&F before July 1, 1989 and did not choose Tier II coverage) and Tier II retirees (all employees hired on or before July 1, 1989 or those who were hired earlier and chose Tier II coverage) may retire and are vested at different times.
+ KP&F Retirement Service and Age Requirements Tier I Tier II Tier I Transfer Tier II Transfer Age 55 with 20 years of service Age 50 with 25 years of service Age 50 with 25 years of service Age 50 with 25 years of service Any age with 32 years of service Age 55 with 20 years of service Age 55 with 20 years of service Age 60 with 15 years of service Age 60 with 15 years of service
In addition to the provided pension, employees are eligible to enroll in the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS) 457(b) deferred compensation plan, known as KPERS 457.
Officers of the agency
State Troopers
State troopers are certified law enforcement officers who enforce Kansas laws. Troopers have law enforcement jurisdiction throughout the state.
Kansas Capitol Police
The Kansas Capitol Police, Kansas Highway Patrol TROOP K, as they are known today, are members of a specialty Troop of the Kansas Highway Patrol. The Capitol Police originally became part of the Kansas Highway Patrol in 1976, under the designation of Capitol Area Security Patrol, or C.A.S.P.
In the early days of C.A.S.P. in 1955 the Kansas Department of administration authorized a police force to patrol the downtown state complex area in Topeka Kansas, the police officers of this special unit were statutorily only allowed to enforce laws on or about state property; leaving them powerless to act on a violation of the law when traveling from one property to another. Thru the years some officers came to Troop K from the Highway Patrol academy, but many were trained thru KLETC or with the Topeka Police Department.