State police officer nominated to U.S. Marshals Service

The second in command of the Rhode Island State Police has been nominated to be the state’s next U.S. marshal.

Lt. Col. Steven O’Donnell has been a state police trooper for 23 years. During that time, he spent six years under cover, posing as a wise-guy and infiltrating the Patriarca crime mafia family.

There’s a mandatory retirement for state police troopers at 25 years. O’Donnell said that fact, along with his desire to stay in law enforcement, got him interested in the marshal’s job.

“I thought it would be a challenge. I’ve never worked in the federal system directly. I’ve worked, obviously, through the FBI and task force and things like that—but never in the federal system,“ O’Donnell said.

O’Donnell was the face of state police at news conferences and crime scenes, and he is widely respected throughout the law enforcement community.

He said while he’s looking forward to working in the federal law enforcement system, leaving the job he loves will be difficult.

“It’s a passion for people. It always has been. There’s a culture of excellence. I say that respectfully. We’re no better, we’re no worse than anybody. The men and women of this organization care about this organization. That’s what drives it,“ O’Donnell said. “That will be the difficult part, leaving that.“

O’Donnell must go through a confirmation process.

The marshal position is a presidential appointment.  He was recommended by U.S. Sens. Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse.