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Rhode Island Rep Pushes to Arm CCRI, RIC Campus Police After Pawtucket Shooting
State Rep. William W. O'Brien says college presidents are "playing a perilous game" by refusing to arm campus police officers.
Published on Feb. 25, 2026
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State Rep. William W. O'Brien is urging the presidents of the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) and Rhode Island College (RIC) to arm their campus police officers following a deadly gun attack at a Pawtucket ice rink. O'Brien has reintroduced legislation to allow public college police officers to carry firearms, citing recent incidents of violence at Brown University and the Pawtucket ice rink as reasons for the change.
Why it matters
O'Brien argues that arming campus police is necessary to provide a sense of security for students and staff in these "chaotic and dangerous times." The college presidents' refusal to arm campus police is seen as "playing a perilous game" and failing to properly protect the campus community.
The details
O'Brien, a Democratic state representative from North Providence, said there is no police chief or union that supports the college presidents' decisions to not arm campus police. He believes the presidents are bowing to "unrealistic and foolhardy political pressure" instead of prioritizing campus safety, with "lives at stake" if they don't act.
- On Monday, a deadly gun attack occurred at a Pawtucket ice rink.
- In December, a mass shooting incident took place at Brown University.
The players
William W. O'Brien
A Democratic state representative from North Providence who is pushing for campus police at CCRI and RIC to be armed.
Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI)
A public community college in Rhode Island whose campus police O'Brien wants to be armed.
Rhode Island College (RIC)
A public college in Rhode Island whose campus police O'Brien wants to be armed.
What they’re saying
“The presidents of CCRI and RIC are playing a perilous game and time is running out for them to do the right thing before tragedy strikes our college campuses.”
— William W. O'Brien, State Representative (Patch.com)
“We need to give our students and staff a sense of security in these chaotic and dangerous times, and both administrations are failing this horribly.”
— William W. O'Brien, State Representative (Patch.com)
What’s next
O'Brien has reintroduced legislation to arm public college police officers in Rhode Island, citing the recent incidents of violence at Brown University and the Pawtucket ice rink as reasons for the change.
The takeaway
This case highlights the ongoing debate over campus safety and security, with some lawmakers pushing for armed campus police to protect students and staff, while college administrators are hesitant to make that change. The recent acts of violence have intensified the pressure on Rhode Island's public colleges to reconsider their policies on arming campus police.
