On the state level, only the Department of Motor Vehicles Highway Patrol provided centralized, statewide law enforcement services.

Members of that department patrolled the state's roadways on motorcycles enforcing motor vehicle law and investigating accidents.

Communication with Highway Patrol members prior to the use of police radios was accomplished through posting of signs in public places.

Highway Patrol Officers would call their stations for messages about accidents or the status of motor vehicle complaints when signs were posted.

The seed of the movement that would become a Department of Public Safety was first planted in 1935 when a special committee was formed to study the feasibility of a statewide police system.

The Vermont State Grange, at the time a powerful group, and many farmers were among the early supporters of a statewide law enforcement agency.

The first bill to establish a Department of Public Safety was introduced in the 1937 biennial session of the Vermont General Assembly.

The defeat of the original proposal has been attributed to lobbying by the sheriffs who perceived a loss of power and a conservative legislature with a tight hold on the purse strings.

[5] The disappearance in 1946 of Paula Jean Welden,[6] an eighteen-year-old Bennington College student, resulted in changes to the attitudes of many opponents of the formation of a Department of Public Safety.

Bennington county officials were unsuccessful in locating the student and were forced to call on state police investigators from Connecticut and New York for assistance.

This case, plus Governor Ernest W. Gibson's efforts ended a decade-long struggle with the Vermont General Assembly passing Act No.

Major General Merritt A. Edson, a former U.S. Marine and Medal of Honor recipient in World War II, formed the Department of Public Safety and became the first commissioner.

Troopers were outfitted with khaki shirts with contrasting shoulder passant, cuffs, and pocket lapels on Fern green and trimmed in Old Gold galloon.

Spring thaw and heavy rains flooded the cellar and personnel had to wear rubber boots and wade through the runoff.

Labor Day in the 1940s and 50s meant the end of heavy traffic, but during the early 1960s that changed as Vermont became the destination for fall foliage, hunting, skiing and snowmobiling.

Long hair, dirty jeans, and thong sandals provided cover while they worked in narcotic interdiction.

[citation needed] Executive Order Number 35 issued in May, 1971, turned the Pittsford Sanatorium over to the department for use as a law enforcement training facility.

[citation needed] Federal funds allowed for the creation of an Interstate Troop in 1977 to provide the speed enforcement of the 55 mph (89 km/h) program.

[citation needed] Headquarters moved to the Vermont State Office Complex at Waterbury from Montpelier in the Spring of 1983.

[citation needed] In late 1987 the department was selected to administer a drug control and systems improvement grant from the federal government.

[citation needed] Technological advances incorporated by the department allowed conversion to infrared driving while intoxicated (DWI) processing equipment, establish a DNA analysis capability in the forensic laboratory and install a computer aided dispatch (CAD) records management system.

[16] In addition to policing and patrolling the Lake, they hold classes on Boater Safety to ensure the waterways are safe.

[17] The Vermont State Police, as a paramilitary organization, uses a formal rank structure to reflect the member's position and level of responsibility.

Barracks have a varying amount of assigned troops based on patrol area size, call volume and other police coverage.

They are typically first on scene for many major incidents and support surrounding police agencies with cases outside of their scope of capabilities.

Field Force members are often referred to as the "Tip of the Spear" and are the model law enforcement officers in the State.

Criminal Division is divided into North and South and then four areas across the state: NE, SE, SW, and NW.

This division is headquartered at the Office of Professional Development attached to the Vermont Police Academy in Pittsford, commanded by a Major/Captain/Lt/5 Sgts and several troopers.

[18] All members hired after January 1, 1998, must possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university to be eligible for a promotion to lieutenant.

All members hired after January 1, 1998, must possess an associate degree from an accredited college or university to be eligible for a promotion to sergeant.