RI State Police Hold Virtual Story Time: Coronavirus

The Rhode Island State Police has started a new program for kids stuck at home during the coronavirus pandemic. Every week, the department will upload a video of a trooper reading a popular children's book.

The State Trooper Story Time program was started to help the department connect with the community and foster a love of reading, Col. James Manni said.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has prevented our Troopers from visiting classrooms this spring and many of them truly missed that experience," Manni said. "State Trooper Story Time gives us the opportunity to participate in the state’s distance learning efforts and encourage our youngest learners to develop a love for books."

Videos will be released on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays at 1 p.m. and can be found on the department's website. Books are intended for kids in preschool through fourth grade and will include English, Spanish and Portuguese-language selections.

"The books were chosen by the Troopers and represent their favorite books or ones they have enjoyed with their own children," said Corporal Heather Palumbo, the program's coordinator. "We have an enthusiastic group of readers and some fun surprise guests lined up through the end of the school year."

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