The Story of the Ohio State Highway Patrol:

The Ohio State Highway Patrol was once just a dream...the vision of a group of people who recognized the need for a statewide law enforcement body in the early 1900's and realized that need would only become more critical as the population grew and society became more mobile and complex.

It took nearly 30 years of grass-roots movements and legislative attempts before the Ohio State Highway Patrol was created in January 1933 to "enforce the laws of the state relating to the registration and licencing of motor vehicles, the laws relating to use and operation of motor vehicles on the highways, and all laws for the protection of the highways."

On November 15, 1933, 60 newly-trained and sworn law enforcement officers, equipped with six cars and 54 motorcycles, rode out from their snow-covered training grounds at Camp Perry on the edge of Lake Erie to become the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

The highway patrolman of 1933 was totally different in appearance from the modern trooper of today.  Each of the original 60 men wore a leather caot, helmet and goggles, breeches, boots and rode a motorcycle on patrol.  Today's troopers are both male and female, use patrol cars, and wear a trim and impressive uniform.

Although the two officers may look different, the goals remain the same...to make Ohio's highways safer to travel by reducing the number of traffic crashes, deaths, and injuries; to apprehend and arrest criminals using Ohio's highways in their criminal activities; to provide aid to the injured and assist motorists in trouble; and to treat all citizens with courtesy and fairness.

The philosophy of the division has not changed; the commitment to safeguard our highways, thereby saving lives, began in 1933, is present today, and will always be the motivating force of the division.

The Flying Wheel:

The insignia of the Ohio State Highway Patrol was designed by an employee of the Ohio Department of Highways in 1933 as the traffic safety agency was being formed.  Since its creation, the "Flying Wheel" insignia has become a national and international symbol of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.  The wheel portrays the concepts of traffic services and mobility while the wings represent swiftness in performing our duties and responsibilities.