Title 42, Title 42 Affairs and Government

The attorney general shall, so far as compatible with other demands upon the personnel in the attorney general’s department, make available to the commission on standards and training the services of personnel to assist the commission in the execution of the duties imposed upon i…

In exercising its functions, the commission on standards and training shall endeavor to minimize costs of administration, so that the greatest possible proportion of the funds available to it shall be expended for the purposes of providing training for local law enforcement offic…

There is hereby created and established, under the authority of the director of the department of public safety, a municipal police training school, for the use of all municipal police departments with the exception of the Providence police department. The municipal police traini…

(a) Starting in January, 1970, and annually thereafter the governor shall appoint members to the commission on standards and training to serve a term of three (3) years commencing the first day of February next following their respective appointment(s) and until their respective …

The governor, upon the appointment of the members of the commission on standards and training, shall select from the appointed members a chairperson and vice-chairperson who shall serve at the governor’s pleasure. Three (3) members of the commission shall constitute a quorum. The…

Members of the commission on standards and training shall receive no compensation, but shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. No member of the commission shall lose any pay or other benefits by reason of attendance…

The commission on standards and training shall meet at least four (4) times in each year and shall hold special meetings when called by the chairperson or, in the chairperson’s absence, by the vice-chairperson. The commission shall have the control and supervision of the Rhode Is…

The commission on standards and training shall make an annual report to the director of public safety which will include pertinent data regarding the standards established and the degree of participation of municipalities in the training programs.

(a) The commission on standards and training shall prepare and publish mandatory training standards, not applicable to the city of Providence, and to be promulgated with due consideration to varying factors and special requirements of local police agencies, the division of enforc…

The commission on standards and training shall prepare and publish mandatory training standards to provide instruction for police officers in identifying, responding to, and reporting all incidents of “hate crimes” pursuant to § 42-28-46. The commission shall include this trainin…

The commission on standards and training shall prepare and publish mandatory training standards to provide instructions for police officers in identifying, responding to, and reporting all incidents of criminal gang activity as defined in § 11-61-3 [repealed]. The commission shal…

(a) The commission on standards and training shall prepare and publish mandatory training standards to provide instructions for police officers in recognizing the possible existence of a mental disorder and handling of complaints involving mental health/substance use emergencies,…

(a) The commission on standards and training shall prepare and publish mandatory training standards to provide instruction for police officers in identifying, responding to, handling, investigating, and reporting all incidents involving victims, witnesses, or suspects with cognit…

(a) The commission on standards and training shall prepare and publish mandatory training standards to provide instruction for police detectives in investigating and handling complaints involving victims, witnesses, or suspects with cognitive or communication-related disabilities…

The commission on standards and training may enter into agreements with other agencies, colleges, and universities to carry out the intent of this chapter.

(a) In addition to any other requirement, no person shall be appointed a probationary or permanent state, city, or town police officer, boating safety officer, conservation officer or park police officer within the department of environmental management, or correctional officer a…

There is hereby established an incentive pay program in accordance with the provisions hereof, offering financial compensation to members of the various city and town fire departments and fire districts and the Cumberland rescue department and emergency service technicians of the…

Any full-time member of any city or town fire department, the Cumberland rescue department, emergency service technicians of the town of Lincoln, any salaried, full-time official, and any salaried, full-time firefighter of any incorporated fire district shall be eligible for the …

Advancement to each of the incentive award steps shall be based on a point system as set forth in § 42-28.4-4 and shall be accomplished as follows:

The points needed to be acquired in order to achieve the various incentive steps as set forth in § 42-28.4-3 shall be earned as follows: (1) One hundred forty (140) points for a baccalaureate degree in a university, college, technical institute, or other institution approved by t…

(a) The chiefs of the various fire departments and fire districts and Cumberland rescue department and emergency service technicians of the town of Lincoln shall supply to the chief of classification and training, division of personnel, on or before the first day of September of …

The state of Rhode Island shall bear the expense for incentive payments. The general assembly shall annually appropriate such sums as it may deem necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter; and the controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw his or her orders …

No credit shall be granted for any degree other than in a major concentration related to fire science, nor for any degree awarded prior to July 5, 1970.

As used in this chapter, the following words have the meanings indicated: (1) “Course of training in police discipline” means a course or courses of instruction approved by the Rhode Island police officers commission on standards and training (“commission”) which shall be taught …

(a) There is hereby established a certified officers pool to be maintained by the Rhode Island police officers commission on standards and training which shall consist of the names of qualified law enforcement officers submitted to the Rhode Island police officers commission on s…

(a) Prior to qualification and eligibility for appointment to the certified officers pool established pursuant to the provisions of § 42-28.6-1.1, a law enforcement officer shall successfully complete a course(s) of training in police discipline to be developed in accordance with…

The Rhode Island Bar Association, in consultation with its committee on diversity, equity, and inclusion, shall annually submit names of attorneys in good standing who express an interest in serving on the hearing panel to the chief justice of the supreme court. In appointing an …

(a) The accused law enforcement officer or the representative of the law enforcement agency may challenge the appointment of any member of the hearing committee for conflict of interest or other substantive grounds justifying disqualification of an appointment. Any challenge shal…

The hearing committee conducting the hearing may take notice of judicially cognizable facts and, in addition, may take notice of general, technical, or scientific facts within its specialized knowledge.

(a) The hearing committee shall be empowered by majority vote to sustain, modify in whole or in part, or reverse the complaint or charges of the investigating authority, as provided in § 42-28.6-4. (b) Any decision, order, or action taken as a result of the hearing shall be in wr…

(a) Appeals from all decisions rendered by the hearing committee shall be to the superior court in accordance with §§ 42-35-15 and 42-35-15.1. For purposes of this section, the hearing committee shall be deemed an administrative agency and its final decision shall be deemed a fin…

I. Suspensions — Summary punishment. (a) The provisions of this chapter are not intended to prohibit suspensions by the chief or the highest ranking officer of the law enforcement agency. (b) Summary punishment of up to five (5) working days’ suspension without pay may be imposed…

(a) No law enforcement officer shall be discharged, demoted, disciplined, or denied promotion, transfer, or reassignment, or otherwise discriminated against in regard to the officer’s employment or be threatened with any such treatment, by reason of the officer’s exercise of or d…

The remedies contained herein shall be the sole and exclusive remedies for all law enforcement officers subject to the provisions of this chapter. Provided that no collective bargaining agreement (CBA) or contract entered into or made effective thirty (30) days after passage shal…

No member of a hearing committee constituted in accordance with the provisions of this chapter shall be held civilly liable for any breach of his or her duties as such member, provided that nothing herein shall eliminate or limit the liability of a qualified member: (1) For acts …

If any provision of this chapter or other application thereof shall for any reason be judged invalid such a judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder of the law, but shall be confined in its effect to the provisions or application directly involved in the cont…

(a) The Rhode Island police officers commission on standards and training shall, no later than December 31, 2025, and annually thereafter by December 31, submit a comprehensive report to the governor, the speaker of the house, and the senate president regarding all hearings condu…

(a) Whenever a law enforcement officer is under investigation or subjected to interrogation by a law enforcement agency, for a non-criminal matter which could lead to disciplinary action, demotion, or dismissal, the investigation or interrogation shall be conducted under the foll…

No law enforcement officer shall be required or requested to disclose any item of the officer’s property, income, assets, source of income, debts, or personal or domestic expenditures (including those of any member of the officer’s family or household) unless that information is …

(a) If the investigation or interrogation of a law enforcement officer results in the recommendation of some action, such as demotion, transfer, dismissal, loss of pay, reassignment, or similar action which would be considered a punitive measure, then, before taking such action, …

(a) The hearing shall be conducted by the hearing committee selected in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. Both the law enforcement agency and the accused law enforcement officer shall be given ample opportunity to present evidence and argument with respect to the is…

(a) Evidence which possesses probative value commonly accepted by reasonable and prudent persons in the conduct of their affairs shall be admissible and shall be given probative effect. The hearing committee conducting the hearing shall give effect to the rules of privilege recog…

With respect to the subject of any investigation or hearing conducted pursuant to this section, the hearing committee may subpoena witnesses and administer oaths or affirmations and examine any individual under oath, and may require and compel the production of records, books, pa…

Witness fees and mileage, if claimed, shall be allowed the same as for testimony in the superior court. Witness fees, mileage, and the actual expenses necessarily incurred in securing attendance of witnesses and their testimony shall be itemized, and shall be paid by the law enfo…

Every party has the right of cross-examination of the witnesses who testify, and may submit rebuttal evidence.

Whenever the Rhode Island state police, or any city or town police or public safety department, or any other law enforcement agency in the state of Rhode Island (hereinafter collectively referred to as “law enforcement agency”) engages in the practice of fingerprinting minors pur…