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1/20/2026
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Sen. Appollonio introduces legislation that would arm campus police at state’s public colleges
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STATE HOUSE — In the wake of the tragic mass shooting at Brown University and documented security breaches at Rhode Island College and CCRI, Sen. Peter A. Appollonio Jr. has introduced legislation that would arm public college police officers.
The bill (2026-S 2053) would mandate arming campus police at public higher educational institutions and would require officers to complete a course of firearm instruction as provided by the Rhode Island Police Officers Commission on Standards and Training.
“The shooting at Brown University makes it clear that Rhode Island’s schools are not immune to the terrible tragedies occurring far too frequently throughout our country,” said Senator Appollonio (D-Dist. 29, Warwick), a retired captain with the West Warwick Police Department and one of the first school resource officers in Rhode Island. “While I pray that such a terrible situation does not occur again in our state, we must equip our campus police officers with the tools they need to protect innocents if evil once again attacks one of our schools.”
Senator Appollonio referred to a report from the Rhode Island State Police of an armed assailant at the Community College of Rhode Island earlier this year. The report states that “the CCRI Police Department currently operates without issued firearms or Conducted Energy Weapons (Tasers), significantly limiting officers’ ability to respond directly to active threat situations. As a result, CCRI remains dependent on external law enforcement agencies for immediate threat neutralization.”
The report also recommends that CCRI evaluates the feasibility of equipping sworn CCRI police officers with firearms or Tasers, and that CCRI issue personal ballistic protection (vests) to all sworn officers to be worn while on duty.
Both CCRI and Rhode Island College remain outliers in the region, with each school having the only campus police officers in New England without firearms or Tasers.
The bipartisan bill is cosponsored by Senate Majority Whip David P. Tikoian (D-Dist. 22, Smithfield, Lincoln, North Providence), Senate Majority Leader Frank A. Ciccone III (D-Dist. 7, Providence, Johnston), Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz (R-Dist. 23, North Smithfield, Burrillville, Glocester), Sen. Thomas J. Paolino (R-Dist. 17, Lincoln, North Providence, North Smithfield), Sen. Stefano V. Famiglietti (D-Dist. 4, North Providence, Providence), Sen. Todd M. Patalano (D-Dist. 26, Cranston), Sen. Matthew L. LaMountain (D-Dist. 31, Warwick, Cranston), Sen. Brian J. Thompson (D-Dist. 20, Woonsocket, Cumberland) and Sen. Andrew R. Dimitri (D-Dist. 25, Johnston).
Similar legislation (2026-H 7128) has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. William W. O’Brien (D-Dist. 54, North Providence).
For more information, contact:
Daniel Trafford, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-1922
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