Raimondo – Our New Colonel

Rhode Island – 11/03/16

Friends

I just finished a press conference introducing Ann Assumpico as the 13th Colonel
of the Rhode Island State Police From the moment I met her, I was immediately blown away. She has an infectious energy,
optimism and determination.

She’s a native Rhode Islander who has spent the last 40 years rising through the
ranks of public safety and law enforcement. She started as a correctional officer
at the ACI before joining the Coventry Police Department as a beat cop. She was
one of Colonel Culhane’s first recruits to the State Police in 1992 and worked in
every barracks in every part of the state before being promoted by Colonel Doherty
to lead the division’s Planning, Research and Accreditation Unit. Colonel Steven
O’Donnell promoted her three times, including a promotion in 2015 to the Rhode
Island State Police Command Staff as a Captain. Drawing on her years as a part-time
instructor, he placed her in charge of the Rhode Island State Police Training Academy
and the Rhode Island Municipal Police Academy.

Her forty years of law enforcement experience is exceptional. She brings seasoned
judgment to the position. But there is so much more to Ann.

She’s a world-class athlete. She has a fifth degree black belt in karate and has
won 20 (yes, 20) World Champion Karate titles. She’s been inducted into 10 different
martial arts Halls of Fame and has won 10 World Police and Fire Games gold medals
for the Rhode Island State Police.

She’s an active member of the Rhode Island Highlanders Scottish Pipe Band and former
adjunct professor at Salve Regina University. She’s the first – and still only –
woman to work as a firearms instructor for the Rhode Island State Police.

And, one of my favorite stories about her shows the breadth and depth of her
experience:
While working at the ACI, she trained a young correctional officer named Steven
O’Donnell in self-defense.

I said early on that I would cast a wide net and look inside and outside Rhode Island
for the next Colonel. I named Colonel Assumpico to the position because she cherishes
the traditions and culture of the Rhode Island State Police, and has the necessary
vision to strengthen the parts of the department which need more attention. Ann
and I understand that diversity is an important part of leadership and we are both
committed to building a State Police and a Command Staff that better reflects Rhode
Island’s population.

I’m so excited that Ann is on the team. She has a great foundation to build upon
and I am filled with hope and optimism about the future of one of Rhode Island’s
most respected institutions.
-Gina