Capitol police in the United States are agencies charged with the provision of security police services for various state agencies, but especially state legislatures. Capitol police may function as part of the state police or may be an independent agency. There is also a federal capitol police agency.
Security police for government facilities are a very old idea, dating back at least to the guards posted at Solomon's temple and including such units as the Praetorian Guard and the Coldstream Guards.
State capitol police agencies
Current
- Connecticut State Capitol Police
- Delaware Capitol Police
- Florida Capitol Police
- Georgia Capitol Police
- Maryland Capitol Police
- Missouri Capitol Police
- Nevada Capitol Police
- North Carolina:
- North Carolina State Capitol Police
- North Carolina General Assembly Police
- Pennsylvania Capitol Police
- Texas Capitol Police
- Virginia Capitol Police
Former
- Arizona State Capitol Police (defunct as of 2011; merged with the Arizona Department of Public Safety)
- California State Police (merged with the California Highway Patrol)
- Iowa Capitol Police (defunct as of 2000; merged with the Iowa State Patrol)
United States Capitol Police
The United States Capitol Police is the agency charged with the protection of the United States Congress and the United States Capitol Building, as well as all the other buildings used by Congress.
See also
- Public safety department
In other countries
- Republican Guard (France)
- German Parliament Police
- Ontario Legislative Security Service
- Parliamentary Protective Service, Canada
- Eishi (Serjeant-at-arms), Japan