Source: The Conversation â USA â By W. Carsten Andresen, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice, St. Edwardâs University The New Jersey State Police, founded 100 years ago, was created to counter the influence of the stateâs rising populations of African Americans and immigrants, whom white residents feared. My research into the agencyâs culture found that the agency emerged as the result of a seven-year campaign by the stateâs Chamber of Commerce to replace rural police and county sheriffs with a statewide professional force. A key element of the chamberâs effort was a 225-page report, issued in 1917, written by Paul Garrett, a well-known businessman, whose reputation helped boost the idea for a state police agency.