The Rhode Island State Police was formed on April 2, 1925. For the first time the state would have a highly organized, uniformed statewide law enforcement agency. The legislative intent was to create a highly disciplined, mobile police organization.

The force was designed to deal with new and rapidly expanding enforcement problems, especially those compounded by the automobile. A special effort was made to use equipment manufactured in the state. The original badges, collar ornaments and other such items were produced by native jewelry makers.

Motorcycles would be an important factor in the mobility of the new troopers. Thus the famous Police Indian, manufactured in Springfield, Massachusetts, became part of the early history of the Department. For firearms, the Colt 45 was selected. This choice was probably influenced by the military career of the first Superintendent as well as the strong Rhode Island ties to the Colt family.

Motor equipment would be critical to enforcement mobility. That was ensured by the acquisition of the following: one Marmon Touring Car, one Chrysler Roadster, one Buick Roadster, three Ford Touring Cars, and four Ford Runabouts. The trusty motorcycle remained the centerpiece of the RISP fleet.

Ten bikes completed the motor equipment as the statewide force began its first field operation in earnest. Currently the RISP is comprised of six patrol commands, referred to as barracks, located in Lincoln (RISP-Lincoln Woods), Richmond (RISP- Hope Valley), Exeter (RISP-Exeter Patrol), North Kingstown (RISP- Wickford), Portsmouth (RISP-Portsmouth), and Gloucester (RISP- Chepachet).

The department also maintains specialized units such as its Charitable Gaming Unit and Training Academy staff.

License Plates of the Rhode Island State Police

Despite being formed and running a fleet of patrol vehicles in 1925, there is no known record of the type, if any, of license plates used by the Rhode Island State Police until 1930.
The spectacular photo seen below, taken in 1930 shows two marked patrol cars of the RISP and sporting titled and dated RISP license plates. The plates were made of embossed steel and measured approximately 6 1/4 " x 12 1/8". The color scheme was white embossed characters and border over a black background. RHODE ISLAND was embossed along the top portion of the plate and STATE POLICE across the bottom. The badge number of the member was also the license plate number and embossed in the center of the plate. The year of validation flanked the assigned badge number in smaller dies with 19 to the left of the number and 30 to the right. The plates had four mounting holes in each corner and four longer mounting slots to the inside of each corner hole.
This layout and fabrication continued until at least 1941, with the color scheme alternating from black with white characters for even years and white with black characters for odd years.
There were 40 patrol cars and 42 motorcycles for the RISP in 1931, 46 cars and 46 cycles by 1939, and 48 cars with 32 cycles in 1940.

Subsequent issues can be surmised as being as follows:

1931: Embossed steel. Black over white. 6 1/4" x 12 1/8". RHODE ISLAND (over) 19 (##) 31 (over ) STATE POLICE.

1933: Embossed steel. Black over white. 6 1/4" x 12 1/8". RHODE ISLAND (over) 19 (##) 33 (over ) STATE POLICE.
1934: Embossed steel. White over black. 6 1/4" x 12 1/8". RHODE ISLAND (over) 19 (##) 34 (over ) STATE POLICE.
1935: Embossed steel. Black over white. 6 1/4" x 12 1/8". RHODE ISLAND (over) 19 (##) 35 (over ) STATE POLICE.
1936: Embossed steel. White over black. 6 1/4" x 12 1/8". RHODE ISLAND (over) 19 (##) 36 (over ) STATE POLICE.
1937: Embossed steel. Black over white. 6 1/4" x 12 1/8". RHODE ISLAND (over) 19 (##) 37 (over ) STATE POLICE.

1939: Embossed steel. Black over white. 6 1/4" x 12 1/8". RHODE ISLAND (over) 19 (##) 39 (over ) STATE POLICE.
1940: Embossed steel. White over black. 6 1/4" x 12 1/8". RHODE ISLAND (over) 19 (##) 40 (over ) STATE POLICE.
1941: Embossed steel. Black over white. 6 1/4" x 12 1/8*". RHODE ISLAND (over) 19 (##) 41 (over ) STATE POLICE.
1942: Embossed steel. White over black. 6 1/4" x 12 1/8*". RHODE ISLAND (over) 19 (##) 42 (over ) STATE POLICE.

As World War II unfolded with the USA's participation in it from December of 1941 until its completion in 1945, many states including Rhode Island embarked on a campaign of conserving metal among other commodities for the war effort. As a result in 1943, Rhode Island did not produce any metal license plates and validated motor vehicle registration by means of a windshield decal.
In 1944, 1945 and 1946, small 2 1/4" x 1 1/4" stencil-styled validation tabs were made to be placed over a flattened 42 embossing on the old 1942 Rhode Island license plates. It is not known if Rhode Island State Police license plates followed suit during this period or just ran the 1942 plates through 1946 when new license plates were finally issued in the state.
The 1946 plates were made of embossed aluminum and measured 6 1/4" x 11". It is believed that the same format and alternating black and white color scheme continued annually during this time into 1957.

The annual variations are believed to be:
1946: Embossed aluminum. Black over white. 6 1/4" x 11". RHODE ISLAND (over) 19 (##) 46 (over ) STATE POLICE.
1947: Embossed aluminum. White over black. 6 1/4" x 11". RHODE ISLAND (over) 19 (##) 47 (over ) STATE POLICE.
1948: Embossed aluminum. Black over white. 6 1/4" x 11". RHODE ISLAND (over) 19 (##) 48 (over ) STATE POLICE.
1949: Embossed aluminum. White over black. 6 1/4" x 11". RHODE ISLAND (over) 19 (##) 49 (over ) STATE POLICE.
1950: Embossed aluminum. Black over white. 6 1/4" x 11". RHODE ISLAND (over) 19 (##) 50 (over ) STATE POLICE.

In 1951, Rhode Island reverted back to embossed steel for their license plate fabrication.

Distinctive door emblem fixture as used by RISP until 1958. Sleak font with more spartan artwork for the center emblem
(Courtesy Willie Herald)

Distinctive door emblem fixture as used by RISP until 1958.
A more water repellant covering, more detailed artwork for center emblem and more rigid font.
(Courtesy Nick Leary)

1952: WINDSHIELD DECAL- Metal conservation effort for Korean War.
1953: Embossed steel. Black over white. 6 1/4" x 11". RHODE ISLAND (over) 19 (##) 53 (over ) STATE POLICE.
1954: Embossed steel. Black over white. 6 1/4" x 11". RHODE ISLAND (over) 19 (##) 54 (over ) STATE POLICE.

1956: Embossed steel. Black over white. 6 1/4" x 11". RHODE ISLAND (over) 19 (##) 56 (over ) STATE POLICE.
1957 to 1960 license plates used by the Rhode Island State Police are stated to have continued in the same alternating fashion, however there is debate if the 1961 "shields" plate may have been issued in 1957-1958 through to late 1961 when the black over reflective red RISP license plates were launched.
Norm Ratcliffe was able to obtain a 1957 paint test sample license plate for the RISP seen further below made of embossed steel and painted silver over purple-maroon. This lends reason to believe that the RISP was considering a significant departure from their traditional color scheme and layout in 1957.

In 1961 (and arguably sooner), the Rhode Island State Police introduced an attractive new license plate to be used on all the agency's marked vehicles. The plate was in the new standard 6" x 12" format and made of embossed steel. The plate had a black border and raised characters. The state name RHODE ISLAND was embossed at the top center of the plate, and STATE POLICE was embossed at the bottom center.
The trooper's badge number was embossed in the center where it was flanked on each side by a black on gold decal depicting the state's shield emblem with IN SERVICE TO THE STATE inscribed at the base of each shield.
An unusual feature of this issue was that the plate only provided two mounting holes on the top and none on the bottom.
This issue was known as the "Shields plate" and it was used until 1964.
This issue was also used concurrent to a white over black RISP license plate run at the time for which we need more information.

In 1963-1964, a 6" x 12" embossed aluminum license plate in black over white was used on marked RISP vehicles. The state name occupied the upper center of the plate, the title STATE over POLICE occupied the mid and lower left field of the plate and a number up to three digits was embossed with small font dies.

1963
(Courtesy Arthur Quirk)

In late 1964 to early 1965, a similar plate to the 1963 issue was introduced in a reveresed color scheme. The layout and manufacture was the exact same, however it had white characters over a black background.
The same small number dies were used for the badge/registration number.
These license plates were used by the Rhode Island State Police until the introduction of a new style/format in 1973.

In 1973, Rhode Island conducted a statewide license plate change-over. It was the year that the now-ubiquitous slogan OCEAN STATE first appeared on the state's license plates.
The plates used by the state police were made of embossed aluminum and had white raised characters over a black background. OCEAN STATE was embossed at the top center of the plate between the upper mounting holes. STATE over POLICE was embossed in the center left portion of the plate while the badge number was embossed in the center right portion. The state name was embossed and fitted between the lower mounting holes.
These plates for reasons unknown were often validated by annual decals.
This style of license plate was altered in 1982 with the addition of a small embossed anchor in the top left corner of the plate.

In 1985, an identical license plate in every way to the 1983 base plate was issued, however with an 85 in the upper right corner in lieu of the 83. These plates were also validated with annual decals through to the early 1990's.

In 2000, the Rhode Island State Police celebrated their 75th Anniversary. As part of their Diamond Anniversary, the agency was issued with special graphic license plates to commemorate the occasion. The plates had an embossed border and numerals painted in black over a reflective white background. RHODE ISLAND was silkscreened in black between the upper mounting holes and STATE POLICE similarly between the lower mounting holes. The entire center left field of the plate was occupied by the silkscreened image of an all-black silhouette of a Rhode Island State Trooper superimposed over an outline of the state also in black.
The badge number up to 3 digits was embossed in the center.
These plates were only used for one year before going back to the all-embossed white over black plates.

MOTORCYCLE LICENSE PLATES OF THE RHODE ISLAND STATE POLICE

As stated in the historical preamble at the top of the page, the RISP much like other state police agencies in the country utilized a large number of motorcycles for patrol in the earliest of days. Despite this fact, there is ZERO information (so far) with respect to photos/information as to how those early RISP motorcycles were registered.
The earliest information so far about RISP motorcycle license plate usage goes to the early 1970's when a series of black over white embossed aluminum license plates were made for RISP motorcycles. The plates measured 4 5/8" x 8 5/8". MOTORCYCLE was embossed at the top of the plate and centered between the upper mounting holes. STATE over POLICE over R.I was embossed over the left center and bottom of the plate. A number up to 2 digits was embossed to the right and centered between the right upper and lower mounting holes. The black paint applied to the raised portions of the plate was applied in a sloppy manner and these plates apparently never made it onto the fleet as the color scheme was supposed to be in reverse.
So far, all of the surviving specimens of this type appear to have never been mounted onto a cycle or used on duty.

All subsequent motorcycle license plates issued by the RISP have reflected the color and layout of their automobile-sized counterparts and can be seen below.

TRAILER ISSUES

The Rhode Island State Police is one of the very few state police agencies in the United States that issues distinctive license plates for the trailers in their fleet.

SPECIALTY ISSUES

The following are non-duty license plates related to the Rhode Island State Police.