Riot control stormtrooper

For other uses, see Riot.

"You and your Hutt overlords picked the wrong day to take on the Empire! Take him!"

―A stormtrooper officer in command of riot troopers orders troops against Beilert Valance^[2]

Imperial Riot Control Troopers, also known as riot control stormtroopers, Imperial riot troopers, stormtrooper chargers, and simply riot troopers, were specialized Imperial stormtroopers who acted as a security force tasked with the dispersion and arrest of insurgents taking part in disruptive activities.

Description[]

"We've got to hold him off long enough for reinforcements!"
"How are we supposed to do that?"

―Two Imperial Riot Control Troopers^[2]

Riot control stormtrooper S2E10 — A pair of riot control stormtroopers on Coruscant

Alternatively known as riot control stormtroopers,^[5] Imperial riot troopers,^[1] stormtrooper chargers,^[4] or riot troopers,^[3] Imperial Riot Control Troopers were toughened, distinguished soldiers, ones that operated in specialized squads. Deployed to local garrisons^[6] in response to unrest on planets among^[7] the thousands^[6] under Imperial control, riot troopers employed brutal, direct, and^[7] heavy-handed tactics,^[6] focused on suppression and containment of unruly populations, violent civilian disturbances,^[7] and insurrection.^[6] Furthermore, stormtroopers with riot control gear could also be stationed aboard Imperial starships, such as^[2] the Imperial flagship^[8] and Executor-class Star Dreadnought Executor, as a security personnel.^[2]

Often on the front lines, riot control stormtroopers were armed with stun batons and^[6] heavy^[7] shields, redirecting blows and bringing adversaries to their knees. Riot troopers also wielded E-11 blaster rifles, hallmarks of their elite brethren, wore stormtrooper armor,^[6] and could carry electrostaffs.^[1] Their overtly physical tactics tended to lead to confrontations with civilians.^[7] In groups, riot control stormtroopers formed teams identified as Riot Control Squads, which bolstered the overall ranks of a deployed army. These squads could further be backed by a duo of KX-series security droids and^[6] specialized stormtoopers, such as stormtrooper marksmen.^[6]

History[]

Imperial Era[]

"We should thank you, cyborg. We've had a lot of trespassers today. To find one dumb enough to be waiting in the detention center is very convenient."
"Picked the wrong day to tick me off, sergeant."

―A stomtrooper sergeant in command of riot stormtroopers and Beilert Valance^[2]

Stormtrooper charger — A stormtrooper charging with a stun baton

Riot control stormtroopers were active throughout the early rebellion against the Galactic Empire^[4] and Galactic Civil War.^[2] In 5 BBY—4 BBY, the Spectres, a Lothalite rebel cell opposing the rule of the Galactic Empire, trained against these troopers with charging droids that wielded stun batons in a cave at Haven, their hideout on Lothal.^[4]

StormtrooperRiotSquad-SWL134 — Riot control squad moving through the streets of a dusty city

During the battle over Jekara, a number of stormtroopers with riot control gear served aboard^[2] the Imperial flagship^[8] Executor and clashed with boarding enemies in the employ of the Hutt Clan, which had attacked the warship^[2] on the advice of Grand Hutt Council member Bokku,^[9] who was secretly a member of the reemerging Crimson Dawn syndicate.^[10] During the battle, these riot control stormtroopers, fighting alongside standard stormtroopers and scout troopers, dealt with many of the Hutt-employed enforcers and, eventually, encountered the cyborg bounty hunter Beilert Valance, whom they assumed to be another Hutt minion. In truth there on his own business, Valance fought through the entire force.^[2]

Collapsing Empire[]

"Riot trooper, keep them away!"

―Ralsius Paldora^[3]

After the death of Emperor Palpatine, Dexter Jettster worried that the citizens of Coruscant would be attacked by Riot Troopers en masse for retaliation over celebrating his death and raiding the Imperial Palace.^[11]

In 5 ABY, some riot control troopers were present on Takodana when Han Solo tried to extract Ralsius Paldora, and also on the Eviscerator during the Battle of Jakku, when Iden Versio crashed her X-wing into the ship in order to find her father, Garrick Versio.^[3]