Title 42
State Affairs and Government

Chapter 28.6
Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights

§ 42-28.6-1.1. Certified officers pool and appointment to hearing panel. [Effective January 1, 2025.]

(a) There is hereby established a certified officers pool to be maintained by the Rhode Island police officers commission on standards and training which shall consist of the names of qualified law enforcement officers submitted to the Rhode Island police officers commission on standards and training selected pursuant to the provisions of subsection (c) of this section.

(b) The certified officers pool shall be the exclusive eligibility source of law enforcement officers available for appointment to a hearing committee pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

(c) Each law enforcement agency in the state shall submit at least one but not more than three (3) names of qualified law enforcement officers to the Rhode Island police officers commission on standards and training. Each chief or highest ranking officer in each law enforcement agency shall consult with the labor union and/or bargaining agent for the respective agency and mutually agree upon the officers selected for service in the certified officers pool. If the chief or highest ranking officer of a law enforcement agency and the labor union or bargaining agent are unable to reach an agreement on an officer for service within the certified officers pool, then the officer being considered will be disqualified from service.

(d) Upon selection to the certified officers pool, a qualified law enforcement officer shall remain a member of the pool until either disqualified or replaced.

(e) Any officer promoted to chief, colonel, deputy chief, or lieutenant colonel upon termination or retirement from active service, or who otherwise fails to remain a qualified law enforcement officer as defined in § 42-28.6-1 shall be disqualified from the certified officers pool. Upon disqualification of an officer for appointment to the pool, or annually during the month of January, any appointing authority may name an alternative qualified law enforcement officer to replace the officer previously named to fill the position in the pool.