Principal functions of the Police Department include, but are not limited to: Captain Houghton is currently deployed with the RI National Guard in Kuwait. Raymond put a $50 bill in his pocket, Vespia said. Buddy Cianci, asked him to lead that citys police department. They last saw each other a week before Ciancis death, at a civic function, where they sat together. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. Westerly Fire District only covers central/downtown area and has its own frequency for dispatch/ops. At that point, Lt. Burton Moon began his long and effective reign as the North Kingstown Chief of Police. I look at some of the people who I have arrested through the many years and I look at them and say, There but for the grace of God go I, Because I came from the same background, and same neighborhood as some of those people.. In 1952, the N.K. He was eating peppers and sausage.. The 2022 Kawasaki KRF1000 UTV was stolen from a home on Waites Corner Road. Vespia said the mob boss offered the pair some food. 34, South Kingstown, Narragansett) introduced legislation this week that would provide all students in Rhode Island with free break and lunch meals throughout the school year. You are using an out of date browser. As a detective, he said, he arrested people he knew and while it was difficult, he would never compromise his position as a trooper or as chief of police. Theyd hand you a cup of coffee, or theyd make some indication, Look, were having meatloaf at 6 oclock tonight. You talk today about the philosophy of community policing that was really the beginning of it, he added. A typical day patrol for an officer in those days might consist of traffic and parking duty on Brown Street in Wickford or maybe doing the rounds of the vacant house checks to assure that no vandals or transients had done their work. Police Chief serves as chair of Transportation Traffic Safety Committee. Officials said the state medical examiner will examine the body. Joe Geaber, who joined the force in 1975, said Vespia gave officers the room to work on their own, if needed, but always had his eyes open throughout the department. The department also acquired its first photographic equipment in 1954 for the preservation of evidence found at accident sites and crime scenes. Address traffic safety issues in the community. The drone located the injured woman in a deep and isolated part of the river in West Kingston. Vespia has never thought much of the crime family. You have permission to edit this article. North Kingstown's police presence at that time consisted of a Town Sergeant who also served as the Town Clerk; in 1941 that man was Elmer Edwards. We kind of grew apart, Vespia said. Federal 2019 census data shows that nearly 87% of residents in South Kingstown were white, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, followed by nearly 2.7% African-American, 2.4% Asian, 2.3% two or more races and under 2% American Indian and Alaska Native. Along with the then-owner of the Old Canteen, they drew up the costs of owning a yacht on one side of the tablecloth: the slip, the insurance, a crew, maintenance. File Photo: Michael Derr. I cant say enough good things about the chiefs command and control of the department, as well as his ability to interact with state agencies and to ensure that public health and safety in South Kingstown has always been at the top of his priority, Alfred said. He called me that night. When Chief Moon retired many years later, he left a police department ready to face a modern world. Patriarcas wife, Rita OToole, let them in. South Kingstown Police Chief Vincent A. Vespia Jr., who will retire next month, is seen in the Dispatch area of the Public Safety Complex in Peace Dale. Special to the Independent. The primary responsibility of the South Kingstown Police Department is to provide a comprehensive public safety program. Soon after he got the job, his longtime friend, the late Providence Mayor Vincent A. SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. - Chief Joel Ewing-Chow closed the book this week on his 26-year career in law enforcement, retiring from the South Kingston Police Department. We want people to come to event, socialize. Cianci said no, wanting to protect the chief from a media firestorm. It was a time when troopers lived in barracks five days a week. SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (WPRI) Rhode Islands longest serving police chief is taking off his badge. Brent Kuzman at 401-789-1091, extension 320. It may not display this or other websites correctly. At 79 years old, Vespia is the only leader the department has known since 1981. And while Cianci eventually bought a yacht, Vespia lamented never joining his friend on it. Police operations are all fully encrypted, Fire, DPW and other operations are in the clear. South Kingstown Police Chief Vincent Vespia Jr. will retire Nov. 1 after 57 years in law enforcement, the last 35 years as South Kingstown's top cop. Also, two or three times I have heard their ems on this frequency, which I was never able to find before. After his release, Cianci returned to radio, hosting a popular talk show on WPRO. Work in unison with Town Departments and multiple agencies on community emergency preparedness planning and administration; maintain state of readiness for emergency response; coordinate implementation of emergency evacuation shelters as needed. There will be food, games, bring the family, Bucco said. For instance, South Kingstown Police will join this year for the first time sponsoring on Aug. 3 a National Night Out, a community-building campaign that promotespolice-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie, Bucco and Monte said. 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Sworn Police Officers also work in the dispatch center, when needed. Yes, a little bit. Vespia expected much from his officers, Allen recalled, and praised them when they did their jobs well. The man attacked suffered facial injuries and need to be taken to Rhode Island Hospital, police said. In 2012, Chief Vespia was the first-ever inductee into the Rhode Island Criminal Justice Hall of Fame, for his extraordinary contributions to law enforcement. It suffered [out] of necessity.. South Kingstown RI Police Frequency crusher13 May 14, 2010 Not open for further replies. It's okay to not be okay and now help is available at 9-8-8. Christopher Leherissier, 34, of Hopkinton, pleaded guilty to distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography. Vespia vividly recalls a night in 1971 when he was acting police chief in Coventry and Cianci was working on the attorney generals Anti-Corruption Strike Force. The biggest challenge is staying fresh and contemporary about residents thoughts and feelings, he said. He was on top of everything he needed to be on top of, Geaber said. Westerly Westerly Fire District only covers central/downtown area and has its own frequency for dispatch/ops. South Kingstown Police Chief Vincent Vespia Jr., at right, said the late Buddy Cianci, at left, was one of his best friends, through good and bad times. Vespia said Patriarca took a few more bites of his dinner, got dressed, and threw on his coat. He said the streets definitely were no safer. This log will normally be updated several times a week. South Kingstown Police Department This page is designed and maintained to update the South Kingstown community on local events and police-related inf 7,735 people like this 9,279 people follow this I had shaken hands with [Town Manager] Steve Alfred, and once that happened, that was the end of it., From day one, I missed hands-on detective work, Vespia said in 2012. Alfred said scrutiny into the now retired EMS Director William Howe, who was suspended last month without pay for failing to hold the necessary state paramedic license, was not a factor in Vespias decision to retire. If somebody would remember me as, There goes a guy who tried to be a good cop, Im happy.. Also: Gas prices fall for second week in a row | RI welcomes new U.S. Attorney | more. Tue, January 24th 2023, 1:13 PM PST Former South Kingstown Police Chief Vincent Vespia (WJAR) The South Kingstown Police Department said Tuesday that former Chief Vincent Vespia Jr. has. Joel Ewing-Chow said. We added them all up, and it was cheaper for him to run for mayor than it was for him to buy a boat, Vespia recalled. Fire and EMS services are provided by Richmond and Wyoming Fire Districts. 166 were here. Low 28F. Write to Bill Seymour, freelance writer covering news and feature stories, atindependent.southcountylife@gmail.com. If you were a good solid police officer, thats all he ever asked for, he said. Vespia oversaw the construction of the $5.9-million, 28,000-square-foot Public Safety Complex, 1790 Kingstown Road, Peace Dale, which also served the 17-member Emergency Medical Service Unit under his command. I always referred to him as a Chief and I always will, Allen said. 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"It's been a great career," Ewing-Chow . Please call the number below to make an appointment, general questions, or other information. Saying Rhode Island "can't afford" to go back to pre-pandemic days where students were unable to eat at school because their parents couldn't afford to pay for them, Representative Teresa Tanzi (D-Dist. Do you believe schools have a responsibility to provide their students with universal, free breakfast and lunch? Townwide Fire Dispatch/Secondary (Simplex), Kingston Fire District Fireground F3/F4 (Simplex), Union Fire District Fireground F5/F6 (Simplex). 1790 Kingstown Road South Kingstown, RI 02879 This site is the official Facebook page for the South Kingstown Police Department.