New Shoreham Police Chief Vin Carlone and State Police Col. James Manni today announced to The Block Island Times that there will be a significantly increased state trooper presence on Block Island this coming weekend and for every weekend for the remainder of the summer. Col. Manni is expected to be part of the contingent this weekend, which could be up to eight additional troopers.
Chief Carlone said the presence of the additional troopers will be to deal specifically with vehicular traffic — of all types — and alcohol enforcement, adding that troopers will be on duty “24/7.” There have been two traffic related fatalities in the past two weeks. One involving a single car on West Side Road and another involving a moped and an SUV on Saturday, Aug. 15.
“I’m the one who made this request of the state police,” Carlone told The Block Island Times today. “We are in emergency circumstances. It’s like a carnival gone awry and I don’t have the staff to deal with this.”
Carlone said the “the purpose of this is to end the summer safely. The purpose is to have everyone drive
