NC Highway Patrol Retirees Association

For the past several year I have tried to capture some of the history of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.  I have relied on SHP documents, newspaper articles, personal memories, information gathered through oral and written interviews with civilian and uniform retirees and conversations with many friends of the Patrol.  This is not a history of the Patrol based on the most important facts of creation, dates, times and important personnel.  Rather it is a working history as I have known it and as I have collected facts and some fiction.  I have tried to put to paper what I believe to be true facts, but some information that I have received still requires a lot of inquiry.  Everyone's memories are some times embellished to a certain degree.  As you read through this history, if you see an error, please drop me a phone call or e-mail.  Just as important, if I have missed some point in the Patrol history or you would like to add to the history, please let me know.  I would appreciate any assistance in trying to record the "working history" as we all have known it.  My deepest regret is the lack of recorded history from 1929 to the present time.  We never thought it was important to have a Historian.  I suppose Albert Coates came as close as we could wish for.  We all have sat around and said "someone should make a note of this".  But we didn't.  Since it is a working history it will be told with "warts and all".  I hope to complete this history from 1921 to 1990.  Enjoy.

Retired Major William S. Ethridge

By 1921, North Carolina is changing from  primarily an agriculture state to one of increased business and industry.  Textile leads the way, being one of the leading industries with a large contingent of employees.  Labor strikes are a common occurrence.  Our highway system is expanding and the number of motor vehicles increase yearly.  This brings about a number of crashes and economic loss to the citizens and state.  Another major factor at this moment in history is that North Carolina is the leading state in the manufacture of illicit liquors.  The Department of Revenue calls for the establishment of a "State Constabulary" (SC).  In March of that year,  Representative Templeton, Wake County, introduces the first bill calling for a SC with twenty thousand dollars as seed money.  Almost immediately he draws criticism from the textile industry which fears  a"strike breaker force" and local and county law enforcement which sees competition in their jurisdictions.  This bill dies in committee.

In November 1923, traffic fatalities become a statewide issue.  Many local newspapers call for a "Motorcycle Road Police".  The newspaper reports call for this law enforcement agency to have statewide jurisdiction with an emphasis on traffic and liquor violations.  Several bills are introduced in the General Assembly but fail to receive committee approval.

In August 1924, NC Senator Bellamy, New Hanover County, sets up a commission to study a SC based upon the Pennsylvania/New York state police agencies.  At this time, other states have used the Pennsylvania State Police as a model since they have been in force since 1905.  In November, the Carolina Motor Club (CMC) gets involved in the effort to establish a state police force.  They cite the six hundred million dollars in annual economic loss to automobile crashes.  Part of their effort mentions that North Carolina should set forth standards for a driver's license requirement.   By December, the CMC issues a recommendation that North Carolina establish a "Rural State Police" modeled after the Pennsylvania program.

In July 1925, Guilford County establishes a county "Highway Patrol" to enforce and cite reckless driving and "Road Hogs".  This is the first use of the term "Highway Patrol" for any law enforcement agency in the state.

In June 1926, the Guilford County Kiwanis Club joins the CMC in asking the General Assembly for a SC and a driver's license requirement.  In June, H. W. Sugden, writer/reporter for the Asheville Citizen, begins an effective campaign against a state police force.  He compares a SC as being anti-labor agents, provocateurs conducting espionage and would be a version of a European policing that would be in opposition to traditional democratic government.

Note:  At this time (1926) there were thirteen states with some form of state police authority.  The Texas Rangers were the first.  They formed in November 1835 to "protect the range".  In September 1926, Sugden bows to statewide pressure and agrees there should be some form of "State Police".  His proposal is that the officers should be under the supervision of the county in which they were assigned.  At this point, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona have established a state police and then drops the police force due to local opposition.  All three later re-establish their state force.

In November 1926, Frank Page, State Highway Commission Chairman, begins to suggest to the General Assembly and other state officials that the idea of a state police agency is not only a good idea but one that would be advantageous to the mtoring public.  In December, the Department of Revenue (DOR) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) supports a bill establishing a "State Highway Patrol" force.  The bill as written would have175 patrolmen divided into four separate districts with a State Superintendent in Raleigh and a Captain in each district.  This bill dies in committee.

During the 1927-1928 General Assembly session support and opposition builds for a state police force.  During this period , industry, particularly textile, is experiencing labor difficulties with many labor disputes and strikes.  Textile unions from the north come south to form labor groups in the many textile factories across the southeast.  Opposition is still strong against a state police force that could be used as "strike breakers".

In January 1929, O. Max Gardner becomes Governor of North Carolina.  He is a strong advocate for establishing a state police force.  He turns out to be just the right person for ensuring the early success of the Patrol as he serves until 1933 

The Carolina Motor Club puts forth a program for a State Highway Patrol, a state driver's license requirement and a safety responsibility program (motor vehicle insurance).  Senator Lawrence of Hertford County introduced the program into a NC Senate bill.  Driver's license would cost $1.50, renewal, $1.00, a commercial vehicle driver's license $5.00, renewal $3.00.  The Highway Patrol would consist of a force of 160 men (one per forty miles of highway) minimum of one per county, three per county maximum.  A Superintendent under the supervision of a Commission with a $5,000.00 annual salary, four assistants at $3600.00 and patrolmen at $1800.00 annually.  From  the start of the session until March 1929, this bill is revised a number of times but continues to survive in committee. 

On 14 March 1929, a final bill becomes a statute authorizing a North Carolina State Highway Patrol.  The portion of the bill regarding driver's license and insurance was dropped.  Representative Hargett, Onslow County, and Representative Harris, Person County, (Hargett/Harris bill) were instrumental in  pushing through the final wording.  The new Highway Patrol will be divided into nine highway districts (DOT configuration) with one Lieutenant and three patrolmen each.  Expenses for the new force come from the state highway fund.  The State Highway Patrol is officially born by statute on 19 March 1929.  Starting salary, $150.00 per month ($1800.00 annual).  By comparison, my salary in 1958 was $275.00 ($3300.00 annual).   From 1929 to 1958 (almost thirty years) the basic salary for a patrolman had increased only $125.00. 

Note:  North Carolina was a leader in establishing a Highway Patrol in the south.  Tennessee followed our lead and came into being on December 1929, followed by South Carolina  (1930) and Virginia (1932).  Virginia had more difficulty than North Carolina in that they introduced their first bill in 1919.

During April-May 1929, the Highway Commission appoints Charles D. Farmer , age forty five, as Commander of the newly enacted Highway Patrol.  Note:  In the majority of documents concerning C. D. Farmer, they list him as the Superintendent of the equipment department of the Highway Commission at the time of appointment.  There is some evidence that Farmer, had in fact, left the Commission and was a co-owner in a plumbing company in Raleigh.  Nine Lieutenants were appointed to serve in the nine DOT divisions across the state.  District Lieutenants were Lester jones, D1; William Croom, D2; L. A. Hankinson, D3; Garland Goodwin, D4; Tom Early, D5; William Vernon, D6; Loren fisher, D7; Rufus Beck, D8 and E. S. Guthrie, D9.  The newly appointed patrolmen attend a two week introduction school conducted by the Pennsylvania State Police.

Upon their return to North Carolina, Captain Farmer began the applicant process for the newly create Highway Patrol.  Over 800 made application, out of which 67 were selected for the first basic school.  The school began on May 20, 1929 and continued for six weeks at Camp Glenn in Morehead City.  Twenty seven were selected to be sworn in ( 1 July 1929) at the completion of their training.  Out of the original 67, forty two completed the course.  Of the original fifteen not selected, they were held in reserve to serve at a later date.  (Patrolman G. I. Thompson died on his first day of duty, 1 July 1929, when his motorcycle was struck by a car driven by a fourteen year old in Wadesboro).

1929

The first North Carolina State Highway Patrol basic school began on 20 May 1929 in Morehead City, NC at Camp Glenn.  The school would run for six weeks.

When the 67 new recruits reported for basic training, they were made aware of seven General Orders that would dictate their work performance and behavior.  The first General Order  forbid the patrolman from hiding in lanes, behind buildings or trees in an effort to apprehend violaters of the motor vehicle laws.  The other General Orders were as follows; the patrolman was to always abide by the same traffic laws that they were to enforce, promptly report any dangerous condition or menace to travelers, to render assistance to the traveling public, be courteous at all times and under all conditions, refrain from the use of profane, abusive or vulgar language, to know that a courteous warning will have a greater effect toward the observance of the motor vehicle laws than an arrest, the use of alcoholic beverage is forbidden and smoking while on duty is not to be tolerated and the making of an arrest for an act growing out of a personal argument on the part of a patrolman or of a quarrel in which a member of his family is forbidden.

Any violation of these provisions will be deemed sufficient cause for dismissal.  Note:  According to the Albert Barden Collection, twenty one of the originals disqualified due to the rigid physical examination, another seven drop out because they did not like the "Kitchen Police" (KP) duties.  One man was sent home because he had "the itch".

R. H. Doughton, Chair of the State Highway Commission, directs the twenty seven patrolmen and the ten officers to report to Raleigh on Monday, 1 July 1929 to be sworn in.

In the beginning, traffic citations and arrest were few.  The 27 new patrolmen (other graduates held in reserve for later placement as in the death of Patrolman G. I. Thompson) were instructed not to cite or arrest for speeding or other minor  vehicle violations.  They were instructed to enforce serious reckless driving, liquor violations and murder.  They were to provide assistance and create good will, hoping they would gain public acceptance, increase their number and eventually have state wide jurisdiction over criminal law.  They were successful, in that, most of their objectives occurred during the General Assembly sessions of 1931 and 1933.

Patrolman Thompson will be the first of sixty three killed in the line of duty deaths recorded in this document since our inception in 1929.  Thompson's death occurred in Wadesboro, Anson County due to a fourteen year old driver, without a license, striking the motorcycle.  The teenagers father is in the right front of the vehicle.  Both are charged and later convicted in the death of Thompson.

Why Morehead City for the very first Highway Patrol Basic School?  First, an abandoned WW I base in Morehead is available and secondly, one of the early supporters, Mr. Wheatly, for the establishment of the Patrol had influence with State/ Federal properties in Morehead and wanted the first school to be held there.  The trainees spent a great deal of their time cleaning and repairing the buildings and grounds.