Rhode Island State Police (Rhode Island)

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.

RISP at Present
Currently the RISP is composed of five patrol commands, referred to as barracks, located in:
 * Lincoln (RISP-Lincoln Woods Barracks)
 * Richmond (RISP-Hope Valley Barracks)
 * North Scituate (RISP-Scituate Barracks)
 * North Kingstown (RISP-Wickford Barracks)
 * Portsmouth (RISP-Portsmouth Barracks)

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, 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. The RISP Museum in North Scituate has been constructed and is open to the public.

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

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 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.

Contact Information
311 Danielson Pike Scituate RI 02857-1907 Phone: (401) 444-1000