| dc.description.abstract | The purpose of this thesis is to determine and examine the role and nature of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol to 1()67. By examining factors which determined the basic nature of the patrol, an understanding of its role in Oklahoma's society and history can be gained. These factors can be examined through several factors including: growth, influence of politics, early history, changes in organization, changes in purposes, and finally by comparing the Oklahoma patrol to other regional patrols which will offer the ability to see more clearly the results of the other factors. The format will be to briefly trace the history of the patrol to 1955, then to examine the development of the patrol in detail from 1955 to 1967. The period from 1937 to 1955 established the basic character of the Datrol, although it was still in the motion of formation in 1955. Then, in that year, a twelve-year period began which decidedly influenced the patrol, ending in basic changes in orcanization and purpose. By examinine: the twelve-yeer period from 1955 _to 1967, the modern character of the natrol can be understood. Throuehout this thesis the names Department of Public Safety and the patrol will be interchanged frequently, for the official nolicy decisions concerninf the patrol always were always made by the governor and the commissioner of the Department of Public Safety. In the department, the patrol has always been the most active and the most visable element; therefore, a discussion of one automatically includes the other. In most cases the Department of Public Safety will be referred to in connection with policy decisions; and, the patrol will be referred to as the actual police agency executing traffic and criminal law enforcement. | |
