The unions feared it. County sheriffs thought it might infringe on their authority. Some felt it would be centered on enforcement of prohibition. Regardless, it had become obvious by the mid-1920’s and thirties that the number of automobiles and highways indicated that some kind of special law enforcement agency was required.

The movement for such an agency had begun seriously in 1923 but it was not until 1931 that two bills were introduced in the legislature – one providing for a state patrol, the other for a state police.

AOWM – September 14