KINGSTON, R.I. – June 17, 2026 – University of Rhode Island Police Cpl. Paul Hanrahan has never denied a hot dog to anyone on campus. That is evident with the long lines of students, faculty and staff who seek a quick, delicious lunch while enjoying all things URI during the annual Quad Fest and End of Semester Celebration events.
But Hanrahan’s on-campus work goes beyond cooking hot dogs over a hot grille and keeping tastebuds happy. For more than two decades, Hanrahan has emphasized “community” within community policing by building positive relationships between URI Police and the Kingston Campus circle. Whether it’s collecting goods to help those in need on campus and beyond, providing safety training in the event of major incidents, or even simply listening to people needing assistance, Hanrahan’s been at the forefront of those efforts to help improve URI’s overall safety and quality of life.
That longstanding work caught the ASIS International Rhode Island chapter’s attention, much to Hanrahan’s delight. The organization, which represents the interests of local security managers and serves as the network hub for security information in the Providence area, presented Hanrahan with the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award during its annual Public Safety Awards Dinner in May. The award recognizes longtime law enforcement officers for their dedicated local community service.
“It’s very flattering to receive this award because I love the job,” said Hanrahan, a Saunderstown resident who joined the University’s police force in 2004. “For ASIS International to recognize me out of all the different law enforcement agencies in the state, it’s really truly remarkable.”
Building a community
Hanrahan’s work building community relations at URI began by helping his fellow military veterans in need. A U.S. Air Force veteran himself, Hanrahan, along with his family, URI students and Ocean State Job Lot, established a coats for veterans program in 2024 to support former military personnel with winter attire. Thousands of dollars’ worth of donated coats, socks, sweatshirts, hygiene products and other essentials, as well as monetary contributions from URI’s fraternities and sororities, are generously gifted to Johnston-based nonprofit Operation Stand Down and the VA Hospital in Providence to help veterans stay warm throughout the winter.
“Cpl. Paul Hanrahan has made a true commitment to community policing and community outreach here at the University of Rhode Island,” URI Assistant Vice President of Public Safety and Chief of Police Michael Jagoda said. “He has been essential to help not only URI Police build trust and confidence with the community, but has also been a great communicator, listening to concerns and seeking how we can make a positive impact on people’s lives.”
Hanrahan has also overseen URI Police’s annual “Stuff the Cruiser” toy drive, which celebrated its 10th year in December. The URI Police-led annual holiday program collects donated toys, clothing, nonperishable food items and toiletries to benefit Hasbro Children’s Hospital, Children’s Friend, the Fogarty Center, Olean Center, Elizabeth Buffum Chace Center and Rhody Outpost—URI’s on-campus food pantry.
In the past, Hanrahan and URI Police held a “American Ninja Warrior”-type event, which collected more than 3,000 canned goods for Rhody Outpost to help URI students who have food insecurities. Having students contribute to improving the overall local community makes Hanrahan smile ear to ear.
“Seeing this engagement is great because you get to interact with all the students and staff,” Hanrahan said. “I might be the face of community policing, but it takes all of us working together to create a welcoming environment.”
Staying safe
Keeping the campus safe is also vital for Hanrahan and URI Police, as well, especially keeping it prepared for major incidents. In 2018, Hanrahan and Jagoda launched their active shooter training courses for URI students, faculty and staff, and neighboring schools and police departments in response to ongoing school shootings across the United States.
The training provides police officers and community members through Citizen’s Response to An Active Shooter Event—or CRASE—strategies on how to respond to an active shooter situation using the Avoid, Deny, Defend method. Hanrahan also leads URI Police’s “Stop the Bleed” course, which trains community members how to apply tourniquets to shooting victims to help increase their survival chances after an incident.
Hanrahan also led active shooter trainings at area schools, including nearby Kingston Hill Academy and The Compass School. In 2017, he was honored with the department’s Outstanding Service Award for training fellow police officers elsewhere in Rhode Island in active shooter procedures.
“My kids go to school here. We’re just like any other parent; we want our children to be safe,” Hanrahan said. “We want to be approachable. We want to be there for the students so that if they have a problem or concern, they will feel comfortable coming up to talk with us.”