08/08/2025
On Friday, August 8, 2025, an observance was held in honor of Colonel Everitte St. John Chaffee, the first Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police. The ceremony took place at Swan Point Cemetery in Providence. Colonel Chaffee passed away on August 9, 1971. Colonel Chaffee was a veteran of World War I before being named the first Superintendent in 1925. He was instrumental in designing the first uniform, writing the Division's Creed, developing policies and procedures, procuring equipment and vehicles, establishing a headquarters, barracks and training academy and ensuring that only the very best candidates were appointed as troopers. Colonel Chaffee set the bar high so that the State of Rhode Island would have the finest statewide law enforcement agency. Today's ceremony was comprised of the State Police Honor Guard and flag detail, remarks by Lieutenant Colonel Robert A. Creamer, Deputy Superintendent, and Mr. David Chaffee, Colonel Chaffee's oldest grandson, a presentation of the U.S. flag to the Chaffee family, and playing of Taps. The Rhode Island State Police is celebrating its centennial year in 2025. This ceremony was sponsored by the Rhode Island State Police and the Rhode Island State Police Museum Foundation.
