Rhode Island State Police Museum

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.