Governor Gina Raimondo said Thursday she picked the new colonel of the state police based on her qualifications and her ability to bring more diversity to the agency.
“Col. Assumpico has 40 years of experience,” Raimondo said when asked by reporters if she picked Assumpico because of her gender. “She has experience as a cop, experience as a correctional officer; she’s been on the Rhode Island State Police for 25 years; she’s been a member of the command staff; she’s worked in every barracks, she’s worked in every nook and cranny of the state; and she’s trained hundreds and hundreds of troopers — all of whom have the utmost respect for her.”
Raimondo indicated she plans to work with the General Assembly to create a separate post for director of the state Department of Public Safety — a role traditionally held by the state police colonel.
Ann Assumpico is the 13th colonel of the state police. The West Warwick native said she aspired to become Rhode Island’s top cop since she was a little girl.
“I was 10 years old and I watched Adam-12 on TV,” Assumpico said. “And I thought, I didn’t see any women role models, but I said, maybe by the time I’m 18, maybe by the time I’m out of high school. I will see more, and it was a very difficult road – a long road – but it eventually happened.”
Assumpico has not yet been formally sworn in to her new role.
Assumpico succeeds Steven O’Donnell, who stepped down as State Police colonel in September. O’Donnell, and his two predecessors, Brendan Doherty and Steven Pare, were among a capacity crowd of law enforcement members and politicians who packed a Statehouse news conference.
Assumpico is a West Warwick native. She started her career as a guard at the state prison. Assumpico joined the State Police in 1992 and previously served as a captain. She is a fifth-degree black belt.