| History of the Oregon State Police |
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| 1931-1939 |
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The Oregon State Police, created by Legislative Act in 1931, became effective on August 1 of this same year.
Governor Julius Meier appointed Charles P. Pray, a lawyer and formerly an officer with the US Dept. of Justice, to head this Department. Mr. Pray set the tone of the new organization by removing its activities from partisan politics. Although Mr. Pray was a Republican, subsequent Democratic governors declined to dismiss him, instead praising his work. Thus the State Police became a career service rather than a vehicle for spoils appointments. Charles Pray was Superintendent from August 1, 1931 to June 1, 1946 when he retired.
The 1931 legislature lumped together the duties of the small highway patrol, fish and game enforcement, crime detection, arson detection/suppression, and prohibition enforcement, charging the new collection as one group.
 Mr. Pray's first report to the public was published January 20, 1932. The report covered the Department's activities through December 1931. He said 415 arrests had been made resulting in fines amounting to $16,986.60. 200 liquor violations had been detected and 181 traffic citations were issued. Reckless driving charges were made in 70 cases. 15 drunk drivers were part of the 70 cases; 29 arrests for failure to display correct license plates were part of the 70 cases. Also detected were 25 people who had switched license plates.
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