Class of 2006
Steven M. Paré entered the Rhode Island State Police Training Academy in 1980. In November of that year he was appointed a state trooper, and over the following two years served in the Uniformed Bureau assigned to the Hope Valley, Lincoln Woods and Scituate Barracks.
In April 1982, Paré was assigned to the detective bureau where he worked with the internal affairs and the intelligence units. Meanwhile, Steven earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Bryant College.
In January 1993, he was promoted to corporal and assigned to the narcotics unit, and in 1995, was promoted to sergeant and assigned to the Lincoln Woods Barracks.
By March 1996, Paré continued to rise through the ranks and was promoted to lieutenant and was the officer-in-charge of the major crimes unit. Several months later he became assistant detective commander responsible for the dayto-day operations of the detective bureau.
As 1996 drew to a close, Steven was promoted to captain and commander of the detective bureau. He assumed responsibility for all operations within the bureau, including the auto theft and fraud unit, major crimes unit, narcotics unit, criminal identification unit, area detectives, and intelligence unit.
In 1998, Paré was selected to attend the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. That same year, he was promoted to major and became the administrative services officer responsible for the staff services unit, which includes missing children, charitable gaming, the Rhode Island State Police Training Academy, the finance and budget office, and personnel.
In August 1999, Steven became the Field Operations Officer responsible for the uniformed bureau, which consists of the state’s six barracks locations, the commercial enforcement unit, and the specialized tactical, diving, and canine teams. He was also responsible for all operations within the detective bureau and the governor’s executive security.
In October 2001, Governor Lincoln Almond appointed Paré to the rank of Colonel and named him superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police. He replaced Colonel Edmond S. Culhane who retired following a four decade career with the New York and Rhode Island State Police.
As superintendent, Colonel Paré oversees the 269-person, full-function, statewide law enforcement agency. His responsibilities include the development of policy, direction, and rules and regulations in support of the crime control and highway safety of the division.
