Rhode Island State Police Museum
Honor • Integrity • Fairness • Excellence • Courage • Honesty • Devotion to Duty
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Rhode Island State Police and Rhode Island State Police Museum & Educational Center Announce Centennial Celebration of the Rhode Island State Police “100 Years In the Service of the State”
North Scituate, RI—The Rhode Island State Police and the Rhode Island State Police Museum and Educational Center are proud to announce the centennial of the founding of the Rhode Island State Police.
The Rhode Island General Assembly signed into law Chapter 588 of the Acts and Resolves on April 2, 1925 creating the “Rhode Island Department of State Police.” This was the first time the state would have a highly organized, uniformed statewide law enforcement agency.
“This year we commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Rhode Island State Police. As the 15th Superintendent of the Division, it is a tremendous honor to celebrate this milestone and reflect on a century of unwavering commitment in the service of our beloved state. Since its founding a century ago, the Rhode Island State Police has been steadfast in its mission to serve our state. The strength of this Division lies in the nine hundred and thirty-four (934) Troopers that have served in the last 100 years, as each one of us abides by the same creed: ‘You are always to remember that you are in the Division of State Police and in the service of the State. It is a call to honor. It requires unselfish devotion to duty, the highest type of honesty and downright courage,’” stated Colonel Darnell S. Weaver, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police and Director of the Rhode Island Department of Public Safety.
“The 100th year of the Rhode Island State Police is a momentous occasion to celebrate the traditions and devotion to duty that our troopers have embraced since 1925. Our troopers and the Rhode Island State Police have evolved over the years to meet the ever-changing needs of our citizens, and I am proud to be a member of this outstanding organization,” stated Sergeant Daniel S. O’Neil, President of the Rhode Island State Police Museum Foundation.
To commemorate this historic occasion and to celebrate the dedication and service of the Rhode Island State Police and those who have served the Division for the past 100 years, both the Division and the Museum will be holding several events and commemorations that will be open to the public.
The following events will be held with details to be released at a later date:
- April 1, 2025 – The Rhode Island State Senate will issue a Resolution at the State House naming April “State Police Month in Rhode Island”
- May 16, 2025 – RI State Police Annual Memorial Ceremony, Centennial Inspection of the Troop & Open House at the RI State Police Museum, North Scituate
- August 9, 2025 – Ceremony of Honor and Remembrance Grave of Colonel Everitte St. John Chaffee, The First Superintendent of the RI State Police Swan Point Cemetery, Providence
- August 23, 2025 – Annual Vintage Cruiser Show
- Fort Adams State Park, Newport
- September 2025 – “Night at the Museum”
- (Date to be announced) Co-sponsored by RI State Police Museum and The Hope Library
- (Date To be announced) Scituate Heritage Walk Display RI State Police Museum
Additional events may be announced at a future date. The Museum has published a pictorial history of the Rhode Island State Police, which is available for sale on the Museum’s website at www.rispmuseum.org The Museum and the Rhode Island Troopers Association have additional merchandise for sale to commemorate the centennial, including challenge coins, Christmas ornament, commemorative license plate, lapel pins, Rhode Island State Police clothing and patches.
Both the Rhode Island State Police and the Rhode Island State Police Museum are excited about this milestone in the Division’s long and proud history and look forward to having the citizens of the State of Rhode Island join us in the celebration.
Grantors
The 1829 Legacy Fund
The Horace A. Kimball & S. Ella Kimball Foundation
Platinum Sponsors
John Hazen White, Jr.
The 100 Club of Rhode Island
Celebration Sponsors
Rhode Island College & University Public Safety Administration
Set in Stone of New England & Rays Carpentry
Tasca Automotive Group
Senator David P. Tikoian (Major Ret.)
USENTRA Security Services
Raffle Sponsors
Cardi’s Furniture
Mr. and Mrs. Constantin
Crystal Lake Golf Club
Famous Pizza, Scituate
Matunuck Oyster Bar
The Providence Bruins
Providence Diamond
RISP Community, Diversity, & Equity Unit
RISP Museum & Educational Center
Russ’ Ocean State Harley-Davidson
The Diamond Bar

About the Museum
The Rhode Island State Police Museum was founded in 2006 to share the history of the Rhode Island State Police and preserve its artifacts, documents and photographs for future generations to research and enjoy. The museum is a 501c(3) non-profit organization and is funded entirely through private donations, fundraising and sales of merchandise.
RI Police Museum Shop
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- Centennial, Featured
Centennial Lapel Pins (Crest Or Centennial)
- $16.00
- Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Recent News








Members of the Rhode Island State Police Museum Foundation Executive Board recently visited the Massachusetts State Police Museum and Learning Center to see their new facility. We would like to thank them for the tour as well as the time they spent with us sharing information and resources. Our new Rhode Island State Police trooper bear also enjoyed many of the displays. The bear will be available to purchase soon, but the bear needs a name! We will be taking suggestions to name the trooper bear at the upcoming Vintage Cruiser Show on Sunday, September 18thfrom 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at State Police Headquarters, 311 Danielson Pike, North Scituate. Please come and enjoy the cruiser show and help us decide on a name for our new bear.
Massachusetts State Police Museum and Learning Center www.mspmlc.org
Rescued by Ruby
The movie is based on a real life story of Ruby, an American Shepherd and Border Collie mix, and Dan O’Neil, A K9 Search and rescue team aspirant. After multiple attempts to find her a home, the pup was deemed unadoptable and scheduled to be put down, when a volunteer trainer named Pat Inman felt the dog was intelligent beneath all the belligerence abd hoped special attention and discipline will save her life.
She contacted the Rhode Island State Police who offered her to officer Dan O’Neil. For Dan, it was his best chance to get his dream job. A lot of patience and hard work later, the pup matured into a loyal K-9 partner.
6-13-2022 SOTS TV Broadcast starts June 18, 2022
Television broadcast dates, times and channels
- Saturday, Jun 18 + 25 at 11:00 PM on Cox channel 13, Verizon channel 32, and Full Channel 9
- Sunday, Jun 19 + 26 at 8:00 AM on Cox channel 13, Verizon channel 32, and Full Channel 9
- Monday, Jun 20 + 27 at 9:00 PM on Cox channel 18, Verizon channel 31, and Full Channel 9
- Thursday, Jun 23 + 30 at 9:00 PM on Cox channel 18, Verizon channel 31, and Full Channel 9
Production One: RI State Police Museum Foundation (6/13/22)
Guests: Ret. Lt. Kenneth Bowman, RI State Police Museum Foundation, kenbowman116@gmail.com
Ret. Lt. James T. Beck, RI State Police Museum Foundation, dashammer@verizon.net
Host: Darlene D’Arezzo
Description: Guests are retired RI State Police and members of RI State Police Museum Foundation https://rispmuseum.org .
They talk about how the museum originated and the persons involved. They offered a video which provides an overview of its creation and another about Trooper O’Brien, who died while on duty during Hurricane Carol. They share not only their memories but also commentary on some favorite topics: Troopers in Uniforms on the Dave Letterman Show; Red Disk use; the unique Social Investigator Corp; the upcoming 100 year book and 2025 Centennial; the charity events hosted by the Museum Foundation; and more.
Video channel link: https://vimeo.com/channels/365354/720312905
YouTube link: https://youtu.be/hH6bKi8J9I8