A weekend of service with the RI State Police

The RI State Police has a unit called the Community, Diversity and Equity Unit, providing community service activities throughout the state. They were also called into action to assist with traffic and crowd problems and moped fatalities on Block Island – here’s where we found them this weekend:

Det. Hernandez & Trp. Cedrone from our Community, Diversity & Equity Unit assisted the Awakening Church by handing out over 1,200 backpacks & school supplies to children for the upcoming year.

Today a contingent of Troopers, including the Traffic Safety Unit, went to Block Island to assist the Block Island Police with enforcement of traffic safety laws for the remainder of the peak season. There is zero tolerance for driving infractions. “We appreciate the warm welcome and the opportunity to serve.” Corporal Joy Younkin, Trooper Damien Maddox and K-9 Sam assisted the Traffic Safety Unit and Block Island Police with enhanced enforcement.

Trooper Damien Maddox is on Block Island today talking with moped operators about safe driving. “A reminder: driving ANY vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a misdemeanor and punishable with a loss of license and imprisonment up to one year.”

Captain Kenneth Jones and Trooper Mark Jerrick from the Rhode Island State Police Community assisted at an event at the Center for Southeast Asians. The event included COVID testing, census questionnaires and a grocery giveaway.

On Sunday, the Chief of Police in Block Island said this weekend was the best one in quite awhile and the RI State Police made a significant difference, with one accident happening on Sunday, a rollover, with a suspected DUI.

Updated report: (Credit to Cranston Patch: Six people were arrested and nearly 100 traffic tickets were issued in the Rhode Island State Police’s first weekend of stepped-up patrols on Block Island. Over the weekend, troopers were called to four crashes, three of which involved mopeds.)

Capt. Kenneth Jones and Tpr. Krystal Carvalho joined volunteers to distribute groceries to 800 Rhode Island families. Thank you to Awakening Church, Price Rite and Feed the Children for your generosity!