Nevada Highway Patrol Changes Name to Nevada State Police
By Casey Harrison
Source Las Vegas Sun
State troopers who police traffic violations will no longer be called the Nevada Highway Patrol and from now on will be referred to as the Nevada State Police.
Effective immediately, the Nevada Department of Public Safety announced on Tuesday it has rebranded all of its divisions to the new designation, authorized by state lawmakers earlier this year, to avoid confusion about the role and purview of officers.
The State Police said in a release that "the DPS name has resulted in some misunderstanding of the mission, purpose and authority of the department." The new designation will also help in marketing and recruitment efforts, according to the release.
DPS, however, will remain the umbrella name for the department — the Nevada State Police name will be used on social media and on recruitment material, gradually phasing out Highway Patrol-branded vehicles.
Law enforcement divisions under the new State Police designation include Highway Patrol, parole and probation, capitol police, investigations and the state fire marshal, according to the release. Most residents interact with department officers who are part of the Nevada Highway Patrol.
Highway Patrol troopers serve as traffic officers both off and on highways and also perform traditional police functions in parts of rural Nevada.
The State Police has also updated the following Twitter profiles:
- @NV_StatePolice (previously @NevadaDPS)
- @NVStatePolice_S (previously @NHPSouthernComm)
- @NVStatePolice_N (previously @NHPNorthernComm)
- @NVStatePoliceNE (previously @NHPNCEast)
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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