Its first headquarters was in the Benefit Street Marine Corps Armory in Providence, which stationed the first twenty-three troopers and the Superintendent.

Consisting of approximately 145 acres of land and many outbuildings, the centerpiece of the property and new headquarters building was the Coggeshall Mansion, built in the late 19th century.

During this time, the division organized itself into three patrol districts comprising the northern, southern, and "island" parts of the state.

As the twentieth century progressed, the RISP enlarged and modified itself, establishing new barracks and instituting new programs to further meet its statewide policing mandate.

Construction of the Rhode Island State Police Headquarters was completed in 2010 in North Scituate on the same property where the Administrative Services building once stood.

Less-lethal weapons issued to Troopers include OC Pepper Spray, Tasers, and the Expandable Straight Baton.

[6] Instead, they wear a set of numbers stamped in brass, placed onto a piece of black fabric, with red piping on the edges, over the left breast on the uniform shirt.

Unlike most other police agencies in the USA, which utilize black leather duty gear and footwear, the RISP wears leather duty gear and footwear (high boots or shoes, depending on the uniform season) that is a deep chestnut brown color, creating a very distinctive look.

[7][8] The Rhode Island State Police won the "Best Dressed" award from the National Association of Uniform Manufacturers and Distributors (NAUMD) in 1986.

On September 30, 1986, six troopers went to New York City to model the uniform on the television show Late Night with David Letterman.

In the television series Brotherhood, the character Declan Giggs, portrayed by the actor Ethan Embry, is a Rhode Island State Police Detective.