By News staff
SCITUATE, R.I. (AP) -- Seven Rhode Island State Police troopers killed in the line of duty since the force was founded in 1925 are having their badge numbers retired.
A ceremony is scheduled for Friday at department headquarters. The trooper who most recently held the badge number will give a plaque and the number to a family member of the trooper who died.
Col. Steven O'Donnell, state police superintendent, says the troopers are true heroes and retiring their badge numbers is the right thing to do.
The troopers killed are John Weber in 1925; Arthur Staples Jr. in 1931; Lt. Arnold Poole in 1934; Joseph Gallivan in 1937; Bradford Mott in 1941; Daniel O'Brien in 1954; and Sgt. Walter Burgess in 1959.