In this article, the authors wish to address the perceived void in police scholarly research concerning police models other than the large urban police department. They have chosen to explore the State Highway Patrol model in general and to use the evolution and history of the Missouri State Highway Patrol as a specific example of that model. The authors argue that the State Highway Patrol police model was initially developed as a less restrictive alternative to the State-police model. However, the authors now feel that in the course of the evolution of the State Highway Patrol police model, the State Highway Patrol model has grown more similar to the full-service State-police model. A review of the historical conditions, including weak State policing power in the 1920's, that gave rise to the development of the State Highway Patrol model, especially the historical development of this model in the State of Missouri is presented. The legislative history of the development of the Missouri State Highway Patrol is included. 36 references