Tallahassee history: Remembering Neil Kirkman, father of Florida Highway Patrol | Brand

Col. Neil Kirkman was the first commander of the newly created Florida Highway Patrol in 1939 and, as the state population grew along with the Patrol, remained Car 1 until his retirement in 1970. Thus, ending a remarkable career as an engineer, soldier, state trooper, statesman, and visionary.

The Engineer and World War I Doughboy

Henry Neil Kirkman, Sr. was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, Feb. 19, 1892, but considered Palatka, Florida, his home. He began his career as a private sector bridge builder in Florida.

Five years later, after World War I broke out in 1917, he enlisted in the U.S. Army as a private. Due to his engineering experience, he was assigned to Company B of the 17th Engineering Regiment. When the Regiment arrived in Great Britain, they were greeted by the King of England.

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Company B deployed to the Port of Nantes on the west coast of France with the mission of rebuilding the Port to receive the ships and soldiers from the American Expeditionary Force.

Later, according to David Kirkman, his grandson, they rebuilt the French railways having to switch the narrow-gauge French tracks to wider tracks to support large American locomotives and rail cars. Returning to the U.S. as a 1st Lieutenant after the war, Colonel Kirkman went back to building bridges but stayed in the Army Reserves.

The evolution of the Florida Highway Patrol

In 1931, 12 weight inspectors were hired under the administrative control of State Road Department engineers followed by the creation of a Division of Traffic Enforcement, with law enforcement authority, in 1934. For reasons lost to history, Gov. Fred Cone dissolved the Traffic Division in 1937. The function of the weight inspectors would later become “Weights Troopers.”

Richard “Dick” Ervin was the attorney for the State Road Department in 1939. He authored legislation that was passed during the 1939 legislative session creating the State Department of Public Safety. Two divisions were developed: the Division of State Motor Vehicles Drivers Licenses, and the Florida Highway Patrol.

Dick Ervin was also instrumental in creating the Florida Sheriffs Bureau in 1955 that eventually segued into the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Those searching for the first commander knew they would have to find someone with a wide range of experience who had the political ability to bring all the potential players to the table for a common purpose.

At the time, Kirkman was an executive with the Luten Bridge Company of Syracuse, New York, living in Palatka, and building bridges in Florida and nearby states. He was well known and respected in government and industry having built not only bridges, but professional relationships.

He didn’t just network; he visited, hunted, fished, and played golf with government and business luminaries. They liked and trusted him.

Citizens generally distrust government overreach. When the FHP was formed, there was a certain skepticism among local governments that saw a state police force as a threat. The Patrol needed someone who could sell the idea and whose ethics were above question. On Oct. 1, 1939, Gov. Fred P. Cone appointed Col. Kirkman to head the Florida Highway Patrol.

In November, 1939, the first training school was held in Bradenton, consisting of 40 recruits with 32 graduating. 20 were issued Ford cars with sirens and bullet-proof windshields. The other 12 were issued Harvey Davidson motorcycles. By the end of 1940, the FHP had 59 officers.

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Another trumpet sounded

When the winds of war swept across Europe in 1940, Commander Kirkman was called back to duty.

Deploying once again to England, he served as the United States District Engineer constructing airfields and buildings. Meanwhile, back in Florida, many of the officers enlisted to fight the war. Those remaining patrolled the state’s 1,197 miles of coastline looking for illegal aliens coming ashore. FHP officers also assisted FBI agents with investigating German nationals and seizing weapons and explosives.

On Aug. 15, 1945, Colonel H. N. Kirkman returned from the war and was installed as the Director of the State Department of Public Safety by Gov. Millard Caldwell and the Florida Cabinet.

Visionary and growth

One exemplary example of Kirkman’s vision was related to the author by David Kirkman, Col. Kirkman’s grandson. He recalls traveling down the new Florida Turnpike that, at the time, was surrounded by cattle ranches and citrus groves.

His grandfather remarked that one day both sides of the Turnpike would be populated with homes and businesses.

As a businessman, both he and civic promoters thought that Florida had a lot to offer for future growth. In the 1920s, he had been stationed with his company in Syracuse, New York, where the Carrier Air Conditioning Company was.

He knew that to grow, Florida needed two things: cars and air conditioning along with good roads, bridges, and traffic enforcement. To leave visitors with a good impression, the Highway Patrol needed to be both professional and courteous. As a result, “Courtesy” became the corporate philosophy of the Patrol.

Gov. Leroy Collins was present on July 5, 1958, along with members of the Cabinet and Legislature, to dedicate the Neil Kirkman Building on Apalachee Parkway in Tallahassee. There have been additions to the four-story building, but it stands in the original place and houses the Headquarters of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

Present day

According to Col. Gene Spaulding, the Florida Highway Patrol Director, Colonel Kirkman’s legacy can be felt throughout the Patrol. He built the Patrol from the ground up which is reflected in the current structure and philosophy.

The military style uniforms were sharp, and the Troopers were courteous. He also, due to his military background, created the Highway Patrol Auxiliary and modeled it after the American Legion.

Colonel Kirkman was inducted into the Florida Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame at the Capitol in May, 2022.

Today’s Patrol is funded for 1,982 Troopers and 515 support personnel. They investigate an average of 14,000+ traffic crashes each month.

Colonel Kirkman would be proud!

David Brand, Law Enforcement Coordinator of the Florida Sheriffs Association, is an occasional guest columnist for the Tallahassee Democrat and lives in St. Teresa.  

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tallahassee history: Neil Kirkman was father of Florida Highway Patrol