(Editor’s Note: The Rhode Island State Police took top honors in NAUMD’s Best Dressed Public Safety Program in 1986, and is still receiving mention all these years later. The 2025 deadline for entries is March 6th. Don’t miss out.)
Knee-high, lace-up boots – always worn with a pair of dark gray jodhpur-style breeches with red piping – are practically synonymous with Rhode Island state troopers.
“What’s the story?” one What and Why RI reader wanted to know. “Why are they part of the uniform, who makes them, and how long do they take to lace up?”
The answer comes down to tradition, according to retired Lt. Ken Bowman, a docent at the Rhode Island State Police Museum.
