Rhode Island State Police

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.

History

The RISP was founded in 1925 at the request of the state's General Assembly, 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.

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.

RISP at Present

Currently the RISP is composed of six patrol commands, referred to as barracks, located in:
*Exeter (RISP-Exeter Patrol)
*Glocester (RISP-Chepachet)
*Lincoln (RISP-Lincoln Woods)
*North Kingstown (RISP-Wickford)
*Portsmouth (RISP-Portsmouth)
*Richmond (RISP-Hope Valley)

The department also maintains specialized units such as its Charitable Gaming Unit, SWAT team, Dive Team, 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.

A new departmental headquarters is slated to be constructed in 2007. A RISP Museum in North Scituate is also scheduled for construction.

The current issue handgun to each trooper is a Sig Sauer P226 chambered in a .357sig.

RISP in Popular Culture

The RISP features prominently in the comedy film "Me, Myself and Irene", with Jim Carrey playing a state trooper affected with multiple personality disorder.

Fallen Officers

Since the establishment of the Rhode Island State Police, seven officers have died in the line of duty. [ [http://www.risp.state.ri.us/memorial/ Rhode Island State Police Memorial Page] ]

ee also

* List of law enforcement agencies in Rhode Island
* State police
* State patrol
* Highway patrol

Notes

External links

* [http://www.risp.state.ri.us/ Rhode Island State Police official website]