Rhode Island State Police
Encyclopedia
The Rhode Island State Police (RISP) is an agency of the state of Rhode Island
responsible for statewide law enforcement and regulation, especially in areas underserved by local police agencies and on the state's limited-access highways. Its headquarters is in Scituate, Rhode Island
.
, and was modeled on the organization structure of the Pennsylvania State Police
. Its first headquarters was in the Benefit Street Marine Corps Armory in Providence
, which stationed the first twenty-three troopers and the Superintendent. At this stage, the department relied heavily on Indian motorcycles
to perform their wide-ranging duties.
By the end of 1925, the RISP had moved its headquarters to a location in North Scituate
, and organized itself into three patrol districts comprising the northern, southern, and "island" parts of the state. As the twentieth century progressed, the RISP enlarged and modified itself, establishing new barracks and instituting new programs to further meet its statewide policing mandate.
The RISP fields an additional patrol command at the TF Green Airport in Warwick
.
The department also maintains specialized units such as its Charitable Gaming Unit, SWAT team, Dive Team (SCUBA), Intelligence Unit, Detective Unit, Governor's Security Unit, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit, Training Academy staff, as well as many other specialized units within the department.
The new Rhode Island State Police headquarters building was completed in 2010 in North Scituate on the same property where the old headquarters stood. The new building is the home of the RISP Detective Bureau, Cyber Crimes Unit, the state 911 emergency telephone center, as well as the RISP command staff and administration and other specialized RISP units. Buildings housing logistical support units are located at the same complex as the headquarters building. The old RISP Administrative Services building has been torn down. The RISP Museum in North Scituate has been constructed and is open to the public.
The current issue sidearm to each Trooper is a Sig Sauer Model P226 DAK (Double Action Kellerman) semi-automatic pistol chambered in .357 Sig caliber.
Less-Lethal weapons issued to Troopers include OC Pepper Spray and the Expandable Straight Baton.
Unlike most other police agencies around the country that utilize black leather duty gear and footwear, the RISP wears leather duty gear and footwear (High Boots or Shoes Depending On The Uniform Season) that is a deep chestnut brown color. This creates for a very distinctive look. RISP high boots, shoes and most of the leather duty gear is produced by the historic Dehner Boot Company of Omaha Nebraska. The RISP also has the distinction of being one of the few if not the only agency to have three seasonal uniform changes as opposed to the standard two season (Summer & Winter) uniform change that most agencies utilize. The three consist of the Winter Uniform (High Boots, Breeches, Long Sleeve Shirt, W/ Sam Browne Strap), Spring/Fall Uniform (Shoes, Regular Uniform Pants, Long Sleeve Shirt, W/ Sam Browne Strap) and Summer Uniform (Shoes, Regular Uniform Pants, Short Sleeve Shirt, W/O Sam Browne Strap).
The primary colors on the State Police uniform are Black and Red. The epaulets worn on uniform shirts and dress blouses are black and piped in red. The stripe on the spring/fall and summer uniform pants is a wide black stripe while the striping on the winter/dress uniform breeches is a wide black stripe that is piped with a thinner red stripe. The spring/fall and summer uniform pants and shirts are a lighter charcoal gray while the winter and dress pants and shirts are a darker charcoal gray. A black tie is worn with the winter, spring/fall and dress uniforms and is tucked into the uniform shirt after the first button.
The uniform hat of the RISP is a gray straw campaign style hat for the summer and spring/fall uniforms while the winter and dress uniform hat is a tan felt campaign style hat. Both hats feature a brown leather band at the base of the hat and a gold colored hat badge mounted on a brown leather backing.
Specialized units (K-9, Tactical Unit, etc.) are authorized to wear BDU style utility uniforms and black nylon web duty gear.
, with Jim Carrey
playing a state trooper affected with multiple personality disorder.
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
responsible for statewide law enforcement and regulation, especially in areas underserved by local police agencies and on the state's limited-access highways. Its headquarters is in Scituate, Rhode Island
Scituate, Rhode Island
Scituate is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 10,329 at the 2010 census.-History:Scituate was first settled in 1710 by emigrants from Scituate, Massachusetts...
.
History
The RISP was founded in 1925 at the request of the state's General AssemblyRhode Island General Assembly
The State of Rhode Island General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. A bicameral body, it is composed of the lower Rhode Island House of Representatives with 75 representatives, and the upper Rhode Island Senate with 38 senators...
, and was modeled on the organization structure of the Pennsylvania State Police
Pennsylvania State Police
The Pennsylvania State Police is the state police force of Pennsylvania, responsible for statewide law enforcement. It was founded in 1905 by order of Governor Samuel Pennypacker, in response to the private police forces used by mine and mill owners to stop worker strikes and the inability or...
. Its first headquarters was in the Benefit Street Marine Corps Armory in Providence
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, which stationed the first twenty-three troopers and the Superintendent. At this stage, the department relied heavily on Indian motorcycles
Indian (motorcycle)
Indian is an American brand of motorcycles. Indian motorcycles were manufactured from 1901 to 1953 by a company in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA, initially known as the Hendee Manufacturing Company but which was renamed the Indian Manufacturing Company in 1928. The Indian factory team took the...
to perform their wide-ranging duties.
By the end of 1925, the RISP had moved its headquarters to a location in North Scituate
Scituate, Rhode Island
Scituate is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 10,329 at the 2010 census.-History:Scituate was first settled in 1710 by emigrants from Scituate, Massachusetts...
, and organized itself into three patrol districts comprising the northern, southern, and "island" parts of the state. As the twentieth century progressed, the RISP enlarged and modified itself, establishing new barracks and instituting new programs to further meet its statewide policing mandate.
RISP at Present
Currently the RISP is composed of five patrol commands, referred to as barracks, located in:- LincolnLincoln, Rhode IslandLincoln is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 21,105 at the 2010 census. Lincoln is located in northeastern Rhode Island, north of Providence....
(RISP-Lincoln Woods Barracks) - RichmondRichmond, Rhode IslandRichmond is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 7,708 at the 2010 census. The villages of Alton, Arcadia, Carolina, Hope Valley, Kenyon, Shannock, Usquepaug, Woodville, and Wyoming are located in Richmond.-History:The town of Richmond was originally part...
(RISP-Hope Valley Barracks) - North Scituate (RISP-Scituate Barracks)
- North KingstownNorth Kingstown, Rhode IslandNorth Kingstown is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 26,486 at the 2010 census. The famous American portraitist Gilbert Stuart was born in the village of Saunderstown, located in the southern region of North Kingstown....
(RISP-Wickford Barracks) - PortsmouthPortsmouth, Rhode IslandPortsmouth is a town in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 17,389 at the 2010 U.S. Census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water. Most of its land area lies on Aquidneck...
(RISP-Portsmouth Barracks) - ChepachetChepachet, Rhode IslandChepachet is a village and census-designated place in the town of Glocester in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. It is centered at the intersection of U.S. Route 44 and RI Route 102...
(RISP-Chepachet Barracks, closed in 2008/2009)
The RISP fields an additional patrol command at the TF Green Airport in Warwick
Warwick, Rhode Island
Warwick is a city in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. It is the second largest city in the state, with a population of 82,672 at the 2010 census. Its mayor has been Scott Avedisian since 2000...
.
The department also maintains specialized units such as its Charitable Gaming Unit, SWAT team, Dive Team (SCUBA), Intelligence Unit, Detective Unit, Governor's Security Unit, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit, Training Academy staff, as well as many other specialized units within the department.
The new Rhode Island State Police headquarters building was completed in 2010 in North Scituate on the same property where the old headquarters stood. The new building is the home of the RISP Detective Bureau, Cyber Crimes Unit, the state 911 emergency telephone center, as well as the RISP command staff and administration and other specialized RISP units. Buildings housing logistical support units are located at the same complex as the headquarters building. The old RISP Administrative Services building has been torn down. The RISP Museum in North Scituate has been constructed and is open to the public.
The current issue sidearm to each Trooper is a Sig Sauer Model P226 DAK (Double Action Kellerman) semi-automatic pistol chambered in .357 Sig caliber.
Less-Lethal weapons issued to Troopers include OC Pepper Spray and the Expandable Straight Baton.
Uniforms
The uniform of the Rhode Island State Police is unique and popular among the law enforcement community. The uniform has also won best dressed in the country in previous years and in 2005, The National Association of Uniform Manufacturers and Distributors (NAUMD) presented the Rhode Island State Police with a 80th Anniversary Commemorative Uniform Award. Unlike most police departments, Rhode Island State Troopers do not wear a traditional badge. Instead, they wear a set of numbers stamped in brass, placed onto a piece of black fabric, with red piping on the edges, over the left breast on the uniform shirt. The RISP does, however, issue a wallet badge for off-duty use/identification. The badge is gold colored for all ranks.Unlike most other police agencies around the country that utilize black leather duty gear and footwear, the RISP wears leather duty gear and footwear (High Boots or Shoes Depending On The Uniform Season) that is a deep chestnut brown color. This creates for a very distinctive look. RISP high boots, shoes and most of the leather duty gear is produced by the historic Dehner Boot Company of Omaha Nebraska. The RISP also has the distinction of being one of the few if not the only agency to have three seasonal uniform changes as opposed to the standard two season (Summer & Winter) uniform change that most agencies utilize. The three consist of the Winter Uniform (High Boots, Breeches, Long Sleeve Shirt, W/ Sam Browne Strap), Spring/Fall Uniform (Shoes, Regular Uniform Pants, Long Sleeve Shirt, W/ Sam Browne Strap) and Summer Uniform (Shoes, Regular Uniform Pants, Short Sleeve Shirt, W/O Sam Browne Strap).
The primary colors on the State Police uniform are Black and Red. The epaulets worn on uniform shirts and dress blouses are black and piped in red. The stripe on the spring/fall and summer uniform pants is a wide black stripe while the striping on the winter/dress uniform breeches is a wide black stripe that is piped with a thinner red stripe. The spring/fall and summer uniform pants and shirts are a lighter charcoal gray while the winter and dress pants and shirts are a darker charcoal gray. A black tie is worn with the winter, spring/fall and dress uniforms and is tucked into the uniform shirt after the first button.
The uniform hat of the RISP is a gray straw campaign style hat for the summer and spring/fall uniforms while the winter and dress uniform hat is a tan felt campaign style hat. Both hats feature a brown leather band at the base of the hat and a gold colored hat badge mounted on a brown leather backing.
Specialized units (K-9, Tactical Unit, etc.) are authorized to wear BDU style utility uniforms and black nylon web duty gear.
Rank structure
| Title | Insignia |
|---|---|
| Colonel Colonel Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures... |
 |
| Lieutenant Colonel Lieutenant colonel Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence... |
 |
| Major Major Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ... |
 |
| Captain Police captain - France :France uses the rank of capitaine for management duties in both uniformed and plain-clothed policing. The rank comes senior to lieutenant and junior to commandant.... |
 |
| Lieutenant Lieutenant A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank... |
 |
| Sergeant Sergeant Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent.... |
 |
| Corporal Corporal Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4.... |
 |
| Trooper Trooper (police rank) Trooper is a rank used by several civilian police forces in the United States. In its plural form, troopers, it generally refers to members of state highway patrol or state police agencies, even though those officers may not necessarily be of the rank of trooper.For example, in the Louisiana State... |
 |
Fallen officers
Since the establishment of the Rhode Island State Police, seven officers have died in the line of duty.| Officer | Date of Death | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Trooper John Weber | |
Motorcycle accident |
| Trooper Arthur L. Staples Jr. | |
Gunfire |
| Lieutenant Arnold L. Poole | |
Gunfire |
| Trooper Joseph J. Gallivan | |
Automobile accident |
| Trooper Bradford G. Mott | |
Motorcycle accident |
| Trooper Daniel L. O'Brien | |
Weather/Natural disaster |
| Sergeant Walter J. Burgess | |
Automobile accident |
In popular culture
The RISP features prominently in the comedy film Me, Myself and IreneMe, Myself and Irene
Me, Myself & Irene is a 2000 American comedy film directed by the Farrelly Brothers, and starring Jim Carrey and Renée Zellweger. Chris Cooper, Robert Forster, Richard Jenkins, Daniel Greene, Anthony Anderson, Jerod Mixon, and Mongo Brownlee co-star...
, with Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey
James Eugene "Jim" Carrey is a Canadian-American actor and comedian. He has received two Golden Globe Awards and has also been nominated on four occasions. Carrey began comedy in 1979, performing at Yuk Yuk's in Toronto, Ontario...
playing a state trooper affected with multiple personality disorder.
Controversy with the RISP
- Smoke Shop Raid - July 13, 2003 Governor Carcieri ordered the raid to stop the tribe from selling tobacco without charging state-mandated taxes. It disintegrated into a violent and widely televised scuffle between tribal members and police.
- Asian Massage Parlor Solicitation Controversy - On September 18, 2009, the Providence Journal reported the State Police had been collecting donations from local Asian spas. Asian massage parlors or “spas” in Providence which police and local watch-dog groups maintain are often fronts for brothels, have for years donated to police association charities –– and conspicuously displayed their support by plastering stickers with police logos on their doors and windows. Spa ads also have turned up in The Rhode Island Trooper, the official publication of the non-profit Rhode Island Troopers Association, a membership organization of state troopers “dedicated to the improvement of the law enforcement profession...” The magazine’s spring/summer 2009 edition features articles on topics such as state police promotions, construction of a new state police headquarters and investigating fraud. The back of the magazine contains a directory filled with ads for area businesses. Under “pools & spas” is a thumbprint-sized listing for “Lily’s Spa.” “I’m embarrassed that it’s in there,” said State Police Trooper John M. Allen, president of the R.I. Troopers Association. In the 2007 issue, three ads for Asian spas in Providence showed up in the Trooper magazine.
- "Brawl at the Hall" - A fundraiser for a deceased Providence police officer turned ugly when an off-duty Rhode Island state trooper allegedly punched a Providence police sergeant on September 2009. The trooper, Edward J. Stenovitch, 41, was charged with one count of simple assault and battery, a misdemeanor. He was arraigned before a bail commissioner at Providence police headquarters and released on his own recognizance. “This investigation revealed that this was an unprovoked attack of a Providence police officer,” Kennedy said. “He was not even in a conversation with this guy. He never saw it coming.” Both officers are from police families. Stenovitch’s father, Edward Stenovitch, is a retired state trooper, while Gannon’s father, Bernard E. Gannon, retired as Providence police chief and is now the police chief in Burrillville. Teddy Gannon’s brother, Danny, is a Providence police lieutenant.
See also
- List of law enforcement agencies in Rhode Island
- State policeState policeState police are a type of sub-national territorial police force, particularly in Australia and the United States. Some other countries have analogous police forces, such as the provincial police in some Canadian provinces, while in other places, the same responsibilities are held by national...
- State patrol
- Highway patrolHighway patrolA highway patrol is either a police unit created primarily for the purpose of overseeing and enforcing traffic safety compliance on roads and highways, or a detail within an existing local or regional police agency that is primarily concerned with such duties.Duties of highway patrols or traffic...