The Maryland State Police is a paramilitary organization. Both our organizational structure and our rank structure are modeled after the United States military. In general, there are:
- Department of State Police (commanded by the Colonel)
- Bureaus (commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel)
- Commands (commanded by a Major)
- Troops (commanded by a Captain)
- Divisions (commanded by a Captain or Civilian Director)
- Barracks (commanded by a Lieutenant)
- Sections (commanded by a Captain, Lieutenant, or Civilian Director)
- Units (commanded by a First Sergeant)
All of the subdivisions of the Department fall under the Office of the Superintendent and are part of one of the three bureaus. Below you will find an overview of the four major parts of the Department.
Office of the Superintendent
The Office of the Superintendent includes staff and units that directly support the administrative responsibilities of the Secretary. Those units and staff report to the Chief of Staff. Reporting to the Office of the Superintendent are the: Criminal Intelligence Section, Department Prosecutor Section, Executive Protection Section, Fair Practices Section, Internal Affairs Section, Legal Counsel Section, Legislative Security Section, Office of Media Communications, Office of the State Fire Marshal, Office of Strategic Planning, and the Vehicle Theft Prevention Council.
Field Operations Bureau
The Field Operations Bureau is responsible for 22 barracks across the state, as well as the Aviation Command, the Transportation Safety Command, and the Special Operations Command. To learn more about the Field Operations Bureau, please click here.
Criminal Investigation Bureau
The Criminal Investigation Bureau was established to provide investigative services, both overt and covert to support the Department's mission of achieving public safety by improving the quality of life for the citizens of Maryland. The Bureau is organized in two commands: the Criminal Investigation Command and the Drug Enforcement Command.
Support Services Bureau
The Support Services Bureau performs vital services to support the personnel and operations of the Maryland State Police. The Personnel Command is responsible for all aspects of personnel administration--from recruiting and training to benefits and retirement. The Logistics Command maintains the vital infrastructure of the Department including the physical buildings, vehicle fleet, and supplies. The Records Command includes the Licensing Division, which issues numerous types of permits and licenses (such as handgun permits) and the Central Records Division which is the statewide repository for motor vehicle accident reports. The Office of Technology Management is responsible for managing the Department's information technology and communications systems. To learn more about the Support Services Bureau, please click here.