OUR HISTORY

The Vision 

The initial visionary impetus for the formation of the National Organization of Retired State Troopers (N.O.R.S.T.) was set into motion by twenty-four retired State Troopers with over 100 years of combined police experience. They hailed from the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. They first met on March 29, 2008, at the Regency Hotel in Jackson, Mississippi. 

Being First: Trailblazers

Many of these State Troopers broke down an array of long-standing racial barriers in their respective state law enforcement agencies. Often, they were the first African Americans hired as State Troopers by their agencies. They excelled and became the first African Americans to attain command and executive-level ranks within their agencies.

Improving Communities and Policing

Although some of the initial N.O.R.S.T. members belonged to other state trooper organizations, the founding members of N.O.R.S.T. envisioned more expansive, bolder, and transformative possibilities of service and education for their members by creating a National Retired State Troopers organization focused on principles of:

• Improving local communities across the nation through the visible involvement of retired and active law enforcement officers in community activities. 
• Contributing to the increased professionalism of active State Troopers across the country through member education and training opportunities
• Building upon the previous challenges, successes, and wisdom of a cross-section of retired and active State Troopers across the nation. 
• Acknowledging the historical significance of the accomplishments of many N.O.R.S.T. members who are history-making men and women pioneers in their respective states and departments. 
• Building a collaborative network of experienced and reliable law enforcement professionals with a common purpose to serve as current and future role models of success, mentors, and institutional knowledge repositories to help positively improve the national police-community relations landscape. 

Optimistic Leadership 

As the essence and positive impact of N.O.R.S.T. activities grew and evolved in many forms under the progressive leadership of Charles E. Patterson, the organization, according to Patterson, optimistically resolved to have a more significant presence among the "pantheon of world-class law enforcement organization[s]." 

Dynamic Transformation

In 2015, under the vision and leadership of David Washington, National Organization of Retired State Troopers, Inc. (N.O.R.S.T.) took the final transformative step to complement its essence by forming a national 501 (C)(3) organization. 

The organization's goals include:

• Carrying out dynamic, forward-thinking initiatives necessary for building effective community-police relations
• Educating active and retired state troopers
• Preserving the crucial cultural history of N.O.R.S.T. members
• Creating a better and safer world of trust and service for citizens and law enforcement officers to live in and thrive.

2024 Initiatives 

• Launch Updated NORST Member Website
• Showcase Inspiring Visuals Honoring "Best of N.O.R.S.T." Stories
• Research N.O.R.S.T. Legendary Member accomplishments  
• Develop N.O.R.S.T. Resources for Community Engagement 
• Survey N.O.R.S.T. Members to share rich Cultural Wisdoms Online
• Promote the N.O.R.S.T. experiential way of "State Trooper Practices" 
• Increase N.O.R.S.T. Membership and Support
• Offer Merchandise To Build Member Pride   

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