§15-2-1. Short Title
This article shall be known and may be cited as the "West Virginia Department of Public Safety Reorganization Act."
§15-2-10. Uniforms; Authorized Equipment, Weapons and Supplies; Local Headquarters; Quarters for Members; Life Insurance; Medical and Hospital Fees for Injuries and Illnesses of Members Incurred in Line of Duty
(a) The standard uniform to be used by the West Virginia State Police after the effective date of this article shall be as follows: Forestry green blouse with West Virginia State Police emblem on sleeve; black shoulder strap one-inch black stripe around sleeve, four inches from end of sleeve; forestry green breeches with one-inch black […]
§15-2-10a. Duty to Return Assigned Items; Superintendent's Right of Setoff
(a) Whenever any member of the department of public safety retires, resigns or is terminated from employment, he or she shall surrender, in good condition, considering reasonable wear and tear from proper use, all items of equipment and clothing assigned to such member as set forth in section ten of this article: Provided, That this […]
§15-2-11. Territorial Jurisdiction
The jurisdiction of the department shall extend anywhere in the State of West Virginia.
§15-2-12. Mission of the State Police; Powers of Superintendent, Officers and Members; Patrol of Turnpike
(a) The West Virginia State Police shall have the mission of statewide enforcement of criminal and traffic laws with emphasis on providing basic enforcement and citizen protection from criminal depredation throughout the state and maintaining the safety of the state's public streets, roads and highways. (b) The superintendent and each of the officers and members […]
§15-2-13. Limitations Upon Members; Exceptions
(a) No member of the West Virginia state police may in any way interfere with the rights or property of any person except for the prevention of crime. (b) No member of the State Police may in any way become active or take part in any political contest or at any time participate in any […]
§15-2-14. Oath of Superintendent and Members
The superintendent and each of the other members of the department of public safety, before entering upon the discharge of his duties, shall take and subscribe to an oath which shall be in form and effect as follows, to wit: State of West Virginia, County of ……………………., to wit: I, ……………………., do solemnly swear that […]
§15-2-15. State Police Child Abuse and Neglect Investigations Unit
(a) The superintendent shall maintain a special unit of the State Police called the Child Abuse and Neglect Investigations Unit. The purpose of the unit is to focus on identifying, investigating, and prosecuting criminal child abuse and neglect cases, in coordination with Child Protective Services, established pursuant to §49-2-802 of this code. The unit shall […]
§15-2-16. Interference With Officers or Members; False Information; Penalty
Any person who shall at any time intercept, molest or interfere with any officer or member of the department of public safety while on duty, or any state, county or municipal officer or person then under the charge and direction of some officer or member of the department of public safety while on duty, or […]
§15-2-17. Unauthorized Use of Uniform, Badge or Other Insignia; Impersonation of Member; Penalty
Every person who is not a member of the department is hereby forbidden to wear, use, order to be used or worn, copy or imitate in any respect or manner the uniform, badge, insignia and equipment prescribed for members of the West Virginia State Police, and any person who shall violate the provisions of this […]
§15-2-18. Officers or Members Failure to Perform Duties; General Penalty; Providing Extraordinary Police or Security Services by Contract
(a) Any officer or member of the State Police who demands or receives from any person, firm or corporation any money or other thing of value as a consideration for the performance of, or the failure to perform, his or her duties under the rules of the superintendent and the provisions of this article, is […]
§15-2-19. Bribing, etc., Officers or Members; Penalty
If any person, firm or corporation shall give or offer to give any money or other thing of value to any officer or member of the department of public safety as a consideration for the performance of, or the failure to perform, any duty of such officer or member of the department of public safety […]
§15-2-2. Superintendent; Departmental Headquarters; Continuation of the State Police
The Department of Public Safety, heretofore established, shall be continued and hereafter shall be known as the West Virginia State Police. Wherever the words "Department of Public Safety" or "Division of Public Safety" appear in this code, they shall mean the West Virginia State Police. The Governor shall nominate and, by and with the advice […]
§15-2-20. Transfer Authorized; Use for Disciplinary Purposes Prohibited; Notice Required Under Certain Circumstances; Relocation Expense; Regulation of Member's Residence
The superintendent may transfer members to meet the operational needs of the department. A transfer may not be made as a disciplinary measure. Whenever any member of the department is to be transferred from one station to another station, for a period of time in excess of sixty days, the superintendent shall give written notice […]
§15-2-21. Suspension, Demotion or Discharge of Members; Right of Appeal
The superintendent may suspend, demote in rank or discharge from the service any member of the department of public safety for any of the following causes: Refusing to obey the lawful orders of his superior officer, neglect of duty, drunkenness, immorality, inefficiency, abuse of his authority, interference with the lawful right of any person, participation […]
§15-2-22. Assignment of Assistant Attorney General; Employment of Legal Counsel
(a) The Attorney General may, upon request of the superintendent, assign an assistant Attorney General to the department. (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section one, article three, chapter five of this code, the superintendent may authorize any member of the department to employ an attorney of such member's choice to act in proceedings wherein criminal […]
§15-2-23. Duties of Superintendent as to Statistics, Aliens and Labor Conditions
The superintendent of the department of public safety is authorized from time to time to collect statistics and distribute information throughout the state, and in this to cooperate with the state superintendent of public schools and other educational agencies of the state, to secure the naturalization and Americanization of all foreign-born inhabitants; to employ all […]
§15-2-24. Criminal Identification Bureau; Establishment; Supervision; Purpose; Fingerprints, Photographs, Records and Other Information; Reports by Courts and Prosecuting Attorneys; Offenses and Penalties
(a) The superintendent of the department shall establish, equip and maintain at the departmental headquarters a Criminal Identification Bureau, for the purpose of receiving and filing fingerprints, photographs, records and other information pertaining to the investigation of crime and the apprehension of criminals, as hereinafter provided. The superintendent shall appoint or designate a supervisor to […]
§15-2-24a. National Crime Prevention and Privacy Compact
The Legislature of West Virginia approves and ratifies the National Crime Prevention and Privacy Compact, 42 U.S.C. §14616, as it existed on January 1, 2006, and the compact shall remain in effect in this state until the Legislature renounces the compact by statute. The Superintendent of the West Virginia State Police shall execute, administer, and […]
§15-2-24b. Fees for Certain Fingerprinting Services; Dedication of Fees
In addition to any fees that may be established or collected by the State Police under any other provision of this article or rule promulgated pursuant thereto, the State Police shall collect a fee of $20 for performing adult private employment fingerprinting or fingerprinting for federal firearm permits: Provided, That all state entities are exempt […]