Rhode Island

RI police cite crime‑solving wins in plate-reading camera expansion

Published

2 months ago

January 16, 2026

RI police cite crime‑solving wins in plate-reading camera expansion

The Rhode Island State Police are in the middle of a months-long push to launch a network of 39 license-plate reading camera devices like the ones that helped investigators identify a mass shooter in December.

The project is working to finalize locations for the devices in 22 Rhode Island cities and towns, according to the trooper leading the project, state police Detective Capt. Marc A. Alboum.

While locations for the devices are not finalized, the project anticipates placement of plate-reading cameras on highways and key arteries across the state.

Alboum said most of the local officials have given an initial approval and he awaits feedback from Portsmouth and Bristol.

The second part of the process involves gathering input from police in those cities and towns, which could lead to adjustments to the proposed locations.

Reading license plates in fast-moving traffic

In part, the plans call for the plate-reading devices in certain cities and towns where traffic moves between Rhode Island and other states.

On that front, Alboum said, the current proposal envisions:

Two devices aimed at traffic in both directions on Interstate 195 in East Providence, which borders Seekonk
Two devices aimed at Interstate 295 traffic in Cumberland, which borders North Attleboro
Two devices aimed at Interstate 95 traffic in Pawtucket, which borders Attleboro
A device aimed at Interstate 95 further to the south in Richmond

The plans also anticipate two camera devices in Cranston, one in East Greenwich, one in Richmond, two in Johnston, where traffic moves between Interstate 295 and Route 5.

State police are pursuing four devices in Providence, including on Route 10, Route 146 and Interstate 95, and at least one device in a more rural location on Route 165 in Exeter.

State police outreach to cities and towns

Alboum said his outreach to town and city officials for approval is in response to guidance from the company that was chosen to supply the license plate-reading system.

That company, Flock Safety, already provides license plate-reading capabilities to many Rhode Island cities and towns.

Alboum said he has initial approvals from 20 cities and towns and as of Jan. 9.

Have any towns denied the request to install Flock cameras?

The Warren Town Council rejected the proposal. Opponents of the systems, including the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island, have argued that the technology supports excessive surveillance by police and infringes on privacy.

Noting that private surveillance cameras are everywhere already, proponents of license plate reading devices say the systems provide a valuable public safety service that checks on the plates of passing motor vehicles and notifies police when one of those vehicles has been flagged.

For example, a car might be associated with a person wanted on a warrant or someone who is a missing person. Or the vehicle itself might be stolen. In those situations, the resulting Flock “hit” can alert police stop the car and investigate if they move quickly enough.

The plate data that does not trigger a flag resides in the system for 30 days, and access to that data is sufficiently controlled and regulated, supporters say. Only investigators with special clearances can run searches.

How data from plate reading system helped police find mass shooter

After the mass shooting at Brown University in December, when investigators became interested in a Nissan with a Florida plate, they ran searches within Providence’s license plate reading system.

Eventually, they identified a blue Nissan with a Florida plate that a Flock device detected near Whole Foods in Providence.

Information on the car’s plate then helped investigators determine that someone who fit the profile of the suspected mass shooter, Claudio Neves Valente, had rented the vehicle, authorities say.

The vehicle itself had not triggered a Flock hit when it passed through. Investigators had to search for it within the Flock system after they became interested in that type of car.

Plate data that flows into the cameras proposed by state police will be “permanently deleted” after 30 days, according to police.

Are Flock cameras used to give speeding tickets?

The devices do not measure speed, Alboum said.

The plate information and other data, which can include a particular sticker or a roof rack, is protected through encryption before it is transmitted to servers, he said, adding that the devices do not have any public internet protocol (IP) address that would facilitate remote access.

The devices are “aligned with the security protocols established by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity as well as the Cloud Security Alliance’s (CAIQ) framework,” he said.

Alboum said that the project is grant-funded and the state has negotiated a three-year contract with Flock for $597,000.

He estimated that state police are at least three months away from operating the system, emphasizing that the process has gone more slowly than he expected.

The Cranston police, under the leadership of Col. Michael J. Winquist, were the first Rhode Island police agency to test the devices through a pilot program. Cranston, Pawtucket and Woonsocket launched license-plate reading networks in 2021.

The systems have factored in the prompt capture of suspects accused of involvement in violent crimes.

“We’ve had nothing but great success in not only preventing crime but solving crimes after they occur in our city,” said Winquist who was expected to make an appearance before the Bristol Town Council.

Alboum cites a recent situation where state police tracked down a vehicle associated with an armed robbery.

“It’s a priceless tool,” he says. “It really is.”

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Rhode Island

Romeiros to hold annual religious pilgrimages in MA and R.I. What to know

Published

5 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Press Room

Romeiros to hold annual religious pilgrimages in MA and R.I. What to know

Hundreds of Romeiros are expected to make their annual pilgrimage of faith in the upcoming weeks, walking across cities and towns in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island and filling the streets with their Portuguese prayers and religious songs.

Wrapped in cloaks and wearing colorful scarves on their heads or shoulders, with a rosary and walking staff in hand, they will walk and pray in most cases from dawn till dusk.

The Romeiros continue to keep alive an Azorean tradition that originated in the 16^th century on the island of São Miguel, where islanders would march for a week during Lent to appeal to God to stop volcanic activity.

The tradition was brought by Azorean immigrants to Fall River in the 1980s, but here the pilgrimage was shortened to one day. It subsequently expanded to New Bedford, Taunton, Bristol and Pawtucket.

A weeklong New England Romaria, covering more than a dozen cities and towns in Southeastern Massachusetts, was introduced in 2012.

When are the one-day Romarias taking place?

Taunton, Mass., Saturday, March 21

Romeiros will depart from Saint Anthony’s Parish Hall to the church at 6:30 a.m. After attending Mass, they will embark on a 15-mile journey of faith, making stops at Holy Family Church (East Taunton), Saint Andrew Church, Saint Jude the Apostle Church and Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church, before returning to St. Anthony’s Church.

New Bedford, Mass., Saturday, March 28

The Romeiros will gather at the Immaculate Conception Church on Earle Street at 7 a.m. and attend Mass before taking to the streets. They will crisscross the city to pray at several churches. They will visit St. Mary’s Church, Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Saint Lawrence Church, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. James Church, Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Our Lady’s Chapel Church, Saint Anthony’s of Padua Church, before concluding the pilgrimage by returning to Immaculate Conception Church for a celebration of Holy Mass at 7 p.m.

Bristol, R.I., Sunday, March 29

The Romeiros will gather at 6 a.m. at Saint Elizabeth’s Church to make their half-day pilgrimage. Along the way, they are expected to stop at Saint Mary’s Church, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, and the Columban Fathers. They will return to Saint Elizabeth’s Church and attend 12 p.m. Mass.

Pawtucket, R.I., Sunday, March 29

The Romeiros will gather at Saint Anthony’s Church and depart at 6 a.m. They will stop at Saint John’s Church, Saint Mary’s Church and Saint Mary’s Cemetery before returning to Saint Anthony’s Church to attend Mass at noon.

Fall River, Mass., Friday, April 3

The Romaria season will culminate on Good Friday, when Romeiros from all over the region are expected to march in Fall River from church to church.

The group will gather at Espírito Santo Church around 6 a.m. for a blessing before traversing the city. They will stop at St. Anthony of Padua, Holy Name, St. Michael’s, St. Joseph’s, Santo Christo, St. Mary’s Cathedral, St. Anne’s, Good Shepherd and Holy Trinity before returning to Espírito Santo to attend Holy Mass and a special Good Friday service starting at 7 p.m.

Weeklong Romaria

A smaller group of Romeiros will embark Saturday, March 21 on a weeklong journey of faith throughout Southeastern Massachusetts, covering about 130 miles on foot to visit around 50 churches in more than a dozen cities and towns.

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Rhode Island

TF Green Airport to undergo rehabilitation work on primary runway

Published

17 hours ago

March 19, 2026

Press Room

TF Green Airport to undergo rehabilitation work on primary runway

WARWICK, R.I. (WJAR) — The Rhode Island Airport Corp. said Thursday that it will begin rehabilitation work on its 8,700-foot runway at Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport in April.

According to officials, the months-long project on Runway 5-23 will include milling and resurfacing the pavement, as well as upgrades to runway lighting, electrical systems, signage, and pavement markings.

Airport officials said aircraft will mainly use Runway 16-34, which is 6,100 feet, during construction.

“While fully capable of supporting safe operations, the shorter runway may require airlines to adjust aircraft operations under certain conditions,” RIAC said in a release.

The work is expected to last through October.

RIAC said passenger volumes at T.F. Green may temporarily decline by up to double digits during certain months of the construction.

“PVD continues to experience strong underlying demand for air travel and RIAC remains focused on completing the runway rehabilitation project efficiently,” Dawn Mineker, executive vice president of infrastructure and operations, said. “We continue to invest in our infrastructure to keep pace with increased growth and passenger demand both on the airfield and within the terminal.”

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Airport officials said the project is funded with federal airport improvement grants and will cost around $30 million.

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Rhode Island

Rhode Island hockey team wins state title after deadly rink shooting

Published

1 day ago

March 19, 2026

Press Room

Rhode Island hockey team wins state title after deadly rink shooting

A Rhode Island high school hockey team won the state championship just weeks after a deadly shooting at a local rink.

The February shooting at a hockey arena in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, left three people dead, plus the gunman.

The three people killed were all related to Colin Dorgan, a high school senior who is a member of the Blackstone Valley team that beat Lincoln 3-2 in quadruple overtime in the Division 2 state championship game on Wednesday, March 18.

“I truly felt it in my heart and my soul that they’re still with me,” Dorgan told the media after the game. “I love them so much, and they’re still here and I know it.”

Dorgan tied the game late, before his team prevailed in the fourth overtime.

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