South Dakota Highway Patrol
| South Dakota Highway Patrol | |
|---|---|
Patch of South Dakota Highway Patrol | |
| Abbreviation | SDHP |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 1956 |
| Preceding agencies |
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| Employees | 269 (as of 2017) |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction | South Dakota, USA |
| Size | 77,116 square miles (199,730 km2) |
| Population | 895,376 (2022 est.) |
| General nature | |
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | Pierre, South Dakota |
| Troopers | 193 (authorised, as of 2019) |
| Civilians | 80 (as of 2014) |
| Agency executive |
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| Parent agency | South Dakota Department of Public Safety |
| Districts | 5 |
| Website | |
| South Dakota Highway Patrol website | |
The South Dakota Highway Patrol is the state police agency for South Dakota, which has jurisdiction everywhere in the state except for sovereign Native American reservations. It was created to protect the lives, property and constitutional rights of people in South Dakota. In addition to enforcement of laws, the SDHP has regional SWAT teams that provide tactical and warrant services to police and Sheriff Departments. The SDHP is also responsible for training K-9 teams to law enforcement agencies in South Dakota. The SDHP also has a division responsible for executive protection of the state dignitaries and protection of the capital grounds and administrative state buildings and grounds.