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3/27/2025
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Rep. O’Brien thanks police chiefs for supporting bill to arm campus police at public colleges
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STATE HOUSE – Rep. William W. O’Brien is thanking several Rhode Island police chiefs for supporting his legislation (2025-H 5666) that would mandate arming campus police at public higher educational institutions. North Providence Police Chief Alfredo Ruggerio, Newport Police Chief Ryan Duffy and former police chief Philip Gould, now Lincoln Town Manager, have all voiced their support for the legislation.
Representative O’Brien has been introducing the bill for the past several years.
“From the bottom of my heart, I thank the police chiefs for supporting this legislation that will protect and save lives if the worst possible situation were to arise on our public campuses. We need to give our campus police officers the best possible chance of protecting and defending students, faculty, visitors and staff, and this is only possible through properly arming and training them to respond to active shooter incidents,” said Representative O’Brien (D-Dist. 54, North Providence).
Currently, the University of Rhode Island (URI) is the only public institute of higher education that has armed its campus police officers. URI instituted this policy in 2015. Representative O’Brien notes that Brown University in Providence, a private institution, also has campus police officers that carry firearms.
Representative O’Brien also notes that the Rhode Island State Police are currently conducting a study at the request of the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) to examine the feasibility of arming campus police on CCRI campuses.
Representative O’Brien is also thanking Providence College for supporting his bill (2025-H 5667) that would require all campus police officers to be equipped with ballistic body armor.
“Campus police deserve to be protected like traditional law enforcement officers, and that includes providing them ballistic vests. How are they expected to protect the campus if they are not protected themselves? Our dedicated campus police officers deserve this added layer of protection and I thank Providence College for their support of this important public safety bill,” concluded Representative O’Brien.
Both bills were heard by the House Judiciary Committee on March 26.
For more information, contact:
Andrew Caruolo, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-6124
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