EXETER, R.I. (AP) – Rhode Island State Police say they plan to create three new state police substations and close two barracks.

State Police Col. James Manni says the new substations will improve public safety and ensure troopers can be closer to their patrol areas.

Manni says the new substations will be in Jamestown, Exeter and Portsmouth, and are expected to open within the next six months to a year.

Within the next few years, the department plans to shut down barracks in Richmond and North Kingstown and condense their operations with the already-closed Portsmouth barracks into one central-southern barracks. All those buildings are in poor physical condition.

Manni says about 80 to 100 troopers and 10 detectives would work at the new barracks.