Ask Trooper Steve: What’s the investigative bureau of the Florida Highway Patrol?

Trooper Steve answers viewer questions

ORLANDO, Fla. – News 6 traffic safety expert Trooper Steve Montiero answers viewer questions about the rules of the road every week, helping Central Florida residents become better drivers by being better educated.

Trooper Steve was asked, “I was recently stopped by a unmarked FHP Trooper who identified themselves as part of (an) investigative bureau. Trooper was cool, but what is this about?”

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Steve said that while a uniformed patrol division is the backbone of any law enforcement agency, as well as what the community sees all the time, there is so much more to these agencies than meets the eye.

“Many agencies have what is called the Criminal Investigation Division (CID). This is a plainclothes division of a department that investigates a wide range of crimes, from street-level narcotics to vice crimes to even tactical responses. The Florida Highway Patrol has a division equal to this, but calls its division the Bureau of Criminal Investigations and Intelligence (BCII),” he said.

Trooper Steve encouraged readers to visit their local police department’s website to educate themselves on what their nearest law enforcement agency provides. Aside, he said more about the type of trooper who prompted the viewer’s question.

“These are sworn Florida Highway Patrol state troopers that are assigned different responsibilities. They are plainclothes, operating in unmarked vehicles. Sometimes, these vehicles do not resemble your average unmarked patrol vehicle. Although these troopers are assigned different responsibilities, they are still granted the same jurisdiction as any state law enforcement officer, meaning they can conduct equal traffic enforcement as your normal uniformed patrol trooper,” he said.

It may be confusing at times, but Trooper Steve said everything you need to know is on the state’s website.

“It’s part of the reason why I always mind my Ps and Qs while driving. You never know who’s watching,” he said.


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About the Author:

Steven Montiero, better known as “Trooper Steve," joined the News 6 morning team as its Traffic Safety Expert in October 2017. A Central Florida native and decorated combat veteran, Montiero comes to the station following an eight-year assignment with the Florida Highway Patrol.

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