Are RI State Police Operating in E.P. and Why?

So, is there a visible Rhode Island State Police presence in East Providence? And what are officers doing here if they are?

News about State Police officers being observed operating in East Providence broke on a social media site over last weekend. But neither City Manager Peter Graczykowski nor Police Chief Joseph Tavares seem to know that State Police troopers are operating in the city and why they are here, according to a story on eastbayri.com.

Graczykoski reportedly is meeting today, Aug. 26, with Col. Steven O’Donnell, the state police superintendent, to get more information on the so-called presence of troopers in East Providence. O’Donnell reportedly wouldn’t comment on the matter to Graczykowski until they met today.

The city manager said that the police chief told him that he has no official knowledge of a State Police presence.

A State Police officer did complete an investigation several weeks ago into the so-called politically motivated administrative leave ordered by Graczykowski for Tavares at the request of the East Providence Budget Commission. But that investigation was concluded, according to the State Police, with no charges being filed.