Lt. Col. Darnell Weaver selected by governor to lead RI State Police

PROVIDENCE — Gov. Daniel McKee on Wednesday introduced the choice of state police Lt. Col. Darnell S. Weaver as the primary individual of shade to guide the Rhode Island State Police.

Weaver assumed the lieutenant colonel submit final 12 months, which made him the highest-ranking officer of shade ever within the Rhode Island State Police. As colonel, he’ll lead the state police and the state’s Division of Public Security, which oversees the Division of Sheriffs, the 911 phone system, the Capitol police, the Rhode Island Municipal Police Coaching Academy and the Public Security Grants Administration Workplace.

Weaver will take over from state police Col. James Manni, who on Might 2 will grow to be city supervisor in his hometown of South Kingstown. 

Extra:State Police Col. James Manni to step right down to grow to be South Kingstown city supervisor

“Lt. Colonel Darnell Weaver has a confirmed document of public service and robust management. I’m proud to be swearing him in on Friday as the following Colonel of @RIStatePolice,” McKee introduced through Twitter on Wednesday,

In accordance with the state police web site, Weaver is a 28-year member of the drive who as second-in-command has overseen the patrol and detective bureaus, in addition to specialty items and the executive and sheriffs divisions.

A Cranston native, Weaver has been posted in all of the state police barracks and acted as evening government officer and assistant patrol commander of the Hope Valley and Wickford barracks, in response to the state police web site. In 2016, he was the officer in cost on the state coaching academy and later served as its director of coaching. Earlier than becoming a member of the state police, he served within the U.S. Marine Corps.

Manni retired from a 25-year profession with the state police in 2015 and labored as Narragansett’s city supervisor earlier than being chosen in December 2018 by Gov. Gina Raimondo to move the state police. 

Manni stated final 12 months that he chosen Weaver to imagine the lieutenant colonel place after the retirement of Kevin M. Barry due to his ability as a compassionate chief who got here up by way of the uniform ranks and is extensively revered by the rank and file.

McKee’s choice received reward Wednesday from Charles P. Wilson, a Rhode Islander who for 14 years served as chairman of the Nationwide Affiliation of Black Regulation Enforcement Officers.

“It is a stellar appointment. That is the primary time within the historical past of Rhode Island State Police that they’ve had an individual of shade lead the company,” Wilson stated.

“Individuals locally must see that the face of regulation enforcement represents the group and appears like them from the highest all the way in which to the underside,” Wilson stated.

He famous there are few individuals of shade with rank in Rhode Island law-enforcement companies and solely 4 chosen to guide them. 

“He will have some severe points to take care of. Realizing Darnell, I imagine he is as much as it,” he stated.

Among the many hurdles going through the company is problem recruiting new members, together with officers of shade.

Jim Vincent, president of the NAACP in Rhode Island, stated he was overjoyed by the historic choice of Weaver to guide the state police drive.

“We reside in a post-George Floyd world. I feel it takes somebody who has a great understanding of marginalized communities and who is aware of policing as he does,” Vincent stated. 

As a Black man, Weaver brings a pure perspective and perception by way of his personal lived expertise that may make him an efficient chief, Vincent stated.

“I imagine he’ll convey communities collectively,” Vincent stated.