There shall be a division of state police consisting of the following members: a superintendent who shall have the rank of full colonel; as many captains as the superintendent shall deem necessary, two lieutenant colonels, three majors; as many lieutenants as the superintendent shall deem necessary; and such other personnel, the number and rank of whom shall be designated by the superintendent, and the general assembly shall annually appropriate such sum as it may deem necessary for the payment of the salaries of the members of the division. The member of the Rhode Island state police who shall be assigned by the superintendent to execute the duties of deputy superintendent shall have the rank of lieutenant colonel.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-28-4