The West Virginia State Police (WVSP) is a state law enforcement agency in the United States that provides police services to the residents of West Virginia. It is the fourth-oldest state police agency in the US. The WVSP was disbanded due to their involvement in quelling of the uprisings on behalf of the coal and mine companies which were surrounding the concept of organized labor in the coal and mine industries. The WVSP was then reorganized as the Department of Public Safety in the second extraordinary session of the West Virginia Legislature on June 19, 1919, as a result of their involvement.

John Jacob Cornwell was a Democratic politician from Romney in Hampshire County, in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Cornwell served as the 15th Governor of West Virginia, from 1917-1921. He also served in the West Virginia Senate from 1899-1905.