Trooper Arthur L. Staples Jr.
Rhode Island State Police
Rhode Island
End of Watch: Friday, December 18, 1931

Biographical Info
Age: 35
Tour of Duty: 1 year, 6 months
Badge Number: 77

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Friday, December 18, 1931
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life

Trooper Staples was shot and killed while attempting to arrest two 16-year-old car thieves on Tower Hill Road in North Kingstown. The two suspects were arrested a short time later and one of them confessed to firing the shots that killed the trooper.

The suspect who killed Trooper Staples was convicted of his murder and sentenced to life in prison. He will be eligible for parole in November of 1954.

Trooper Staples had served with the agency for 18 months.