Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo announced she will appoint James Manni as superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police. She also said she’ll nominate Patricia Coyne-Fague as director of the Rhode Island Department of Corrections, and appoint Marc Pappas to lead the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency.
Raimondo announced Manni’s appointment following Colonel Ann Assumpico’s decision to retire from the State Police next month. Assumpico this week announced her retirement after two years in the top job and 42 years in law enforcement.
Raimondo will also nominate Manni to direct the Rhode Island Department of Public Safety, pending the Rhode Island Senate’s approval.
Manni is a 25-year veteran of the Rhode Island State Police who retired in 2015 is coming back to lead the agency. Manni, who also has five years’ experience with the U.S. Secret Service, retired as a major and since 2016 has been Narragansett’s town manager.
Manni said he is “humbled and honored” by the appointment.
Raimondo also announced that she will nominate Patricia Coyne-Fague to be the director of state Department of Corrections. Coyne-Fague has worked for the DOC for nearly two decades, and most recently served as the acting director of the department for the past year.
Of Coyne-Fague, Raimondo said, “She’s played an integral role to implement our nation-leading response to the overdose crisis and she worked closely with our team to develop, pass and implement the transformative justice reinvestment package during my first term.”
Raimondo’s third appointment will make Marc Pappas director of the state Emergency Management Agency. Pappas Pappas served as the acting director since Peter Gaynor left earlier this year to become the deputy administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Pappas began his career with RIEMA in 2009, following 25 years in law enforcement.
The nominations of James Manni as Director of Public Safety and Patricia Coyne-Fague as Director of the Department of Corrections require Senate confirmation. The Governor said she plans to formally submit their names in the opening days of the 2019 session. The appointment of Marc Pappas does not require Senate approval and will take effect immediately.
