The current emblem of the Maryland State Police was adopted in 1950. It was designed by Mr. Edwin Tunis, a well know artist from Maryland, and is an adaptation of the shield in the State of Maryland Seal.The shield bears the Arms of the Calvert and Crossland families. Calvert was the family name of the Lords Baltimore who founded Maryland. Crossland was the family of the mother of the first Lord Baltimore.
The black and gold colors are the Baltimore Arms. The red and silver colors are the Crossland Arms. The Maryland Flag bears the same Arms.
The Maryland State Police was formed in 1921 to enforce the motor vehicle laws of the State. In 1935 they became a separate branch of state government, and were charged with preventing and detecting crime, to apprehend criminals and to enforce the criminal and motor vehicle laws.