The Colonel's Message

Colonel Steven G. O'Donnell
Superintendent
Rhode Island State Police
Commissioner
Rhode Island Department of Public Safety

Welcome to the website of the Rhode Island State Police. If you are interested in learning about how to become a Rhode Island State Trooper, the State Police Museum, Rhode Island's Ten Most Wanted, crime statistics, if you need public information, or anything else related to the Rhode Island State Police, I hope you will find this website informative.

The Rhode Island State Police was founded in 1925, and the first Superintendent, Colonel Everitte St. John Chaffee, designed the agency to deal with "the new and rapidly expanding enforcement problems, especially those compounded by the automobile." The Rhode Island State Police of 2012 has many more challenges than those associated with the automobile. The Division faces budget challenges, staying ahead of ever-changing and emerging technology, prevention and enforcement of drunk and impaired driving, terrorism and homeland security threats, narcotics, crimes associated with the country's economy, and many others.

I began my career with the Rhode Island State Police after graduating from the State Police Academy in 1987. I served as a Trooper in the Uniform Bureau at all Barracks locations until 1990. From 1990 to 1998, I served as a Detective in the Intelligence Unit. During this time, I worked in an undercover capacity working hundreds of undercover investigations, including infiltration and prosecution of members of the Patriarca organized crime family. While assigned to the Intelligence Unit, I was promoted to the rank of Corporal and then Sergeant. From 2000 to 2001 I was the first commander of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force (HIDTA). I was promoted to Lieutenant and served as the Officer-in-Charge of the Narcotics Unit. I then served as the Officer-in-Charge of the Traffic/Planning & Research Unit from 2001 to 2002. During this time, I also attended the 211th FBI National Academy. From 2003-2004, I served as Detective Commander overseeing all Detective operations. In July I was promoted to Major and served as Chief of Administrative Services until 2004, when I was promoted to Major in Charge of Field Operations. In 2007 I served as the Acting Superintendent, and in May of that year the Division underwent reorganization. I became the first Deputy Superintendent, holding the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, second-in-command of the Division of State Police. I retired in the fall of 2009, after serving 23 years with the Rhode Island State Police. I was then appointed as United States Marshal for the District of Rhode Island by President Barack Obama.

In May 2011, Governor Lincoln D. Chafee asked if I would accept the position of Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police, and I decided to return to my roots. I was sworn in as the twelfth Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police on May 9th.

The Superintendent of State Police is responsible for all operations of the Division and for the 228 troopers and 65 civilian staff. In 2007, legislation was passed to create the Rhode Island Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Superintendent also serves as the Commissioner of DPS. The agencies that are under the umbrella of the DPS are: Rhode Island Capitol Police, Rhode Island Fire Marshals' Office, Rhode Island State Sheriffs' Division, E-911 Public Safety Answering Point, Rhode Island Municipal Police Training Academy, and the Public Safety Grants Administration Office. These agencies have a total of 312 employees.

The Rhode Island State Police operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. In addition to patrol expertise, the Division also has a robust investigative component that includes a Financial Crimes Unit, Computer Crimes Unit, Major Crimes/Organized Crime Unit, Criminal Identification Unit/Crime Scene Investigations, as well as other investigative expertise.

All members of the Rhode Island State Police, both sworn and civilian, are highly educated, motivated, and trained in various components for a modern law enforcement agency.

Thank you for visiting our website, and welcome to your Rhode Island State Police.

Respectfully,

Steven G. O'Donnell
Colonel
Superintendent