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. Authorities said Elise Collins, 57, rammed her car into an Environmental police truck and a Narragansett police cruiser. Sworn Police Officers also work in the dispatch center, when needed. Although preservation of peace and protection of lives and property are the principle duties of a police officer, South Kingstown Public Safety Personnel, both sworn and civilian, also function as public service officers responsible for identifying and responding to service needs of all our citizens. During my whole career, I was most happy when I was a street cop and investigator., One of the early cases he worked on was the murder of Jason Foreman. You are using an out of date browser. Narragansett police K-9 Astor searched the woods and found the three teens, following a car chase, police said. New Starbucks line a curiosity, RISPCA has nearly 30 guinea pigs up for adoption, February vacation events around Southern New England, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Not many people can do that., When I started, I was patrolling highways on a motorcycle, Vespia told The Independent in 2012 before the Hall of Fame induction. The friendship grew so strong, they served as best man at each others weddings, Vespia said. All the police work required in a town as large as North Kingstown could not have been accomplished with a department which, for nearly its first two decades, rarely exceeded ten men, without the help provided by the assistance of the auxiliary police, later to be known as the police reserve. Cianci, the longest-serving mayor of Providence, died Jan. 28. Westerly Westerly Fire District only covers central/downtown area and has its own frequency for dispatch/ops. (The office is closed on observed holidays.). Other promotions were Detective Lt. Montafix Houghton IV to captain, Detective Sgt. Buddy Cianci, asked him to lead that citys police department. We had each others back, said Tamburini, who has been chief of the Johnston Police Department since 1995. 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But he also gave us the leeway for us to do what we needed to do. A placard meant, phone in ASAP., They were wonderful, wonderful people, Vespia said. Town of South Kingstown 180 High Street Wakefield, RI 02879 Phone: 401-789-9331 Fax: 401-789-5280 Email us Hours of Operation Do you believe schools have a responsibility to provide their students with universal, free breakfast and lunch? His election ended 150 years of largely Irish Democrat control of the city. You cant be successful unless you have a good partner, and Vinny was the best.. Here are six tips from South Kingstown police to avoid becoming a victim during the holiday season. Cianci was convicted of two felonies, and each time, was forced to resign from office. Most recently Bucco was captain of operations, but with his new promotion hell be second in command and have a strong focus overseeing Ewing-Chows more cemented community approach. Maybe I wouldnt be in the position I would be in now [if not for him].. "Fifty-seven years is a long time to be a cop," South Kingstown's Chief Vincent Vespia . In 1974, Cianci, then 33 and a Republican, narrowly defeated Doorley, in part with the help of Democrats unhappy with the mayor. He also is a member of the Rhode Island Justice Commission and its Law Enforcement Planning Committee. He called me that night. Do you believe schools have a responsibility to provide their students with universal, free breakfast and lunch? 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. The Chief's mobile fleet consisted of two police cruisers and his own personal car, all of which were equipped with a new-fangled two-way radio recently installed in 1947. The public safety building can be viewed and recorded on closed circuit TV cameras and monitors located in the dispatch center. RADIO: RadioShack PRO-197 Scanner ANTENNA: Yagi, pointed to South Mountain, Phoenix, AZ. These come as a new chief tries to strengthen community connections as national questioning continues about law enforcements culture and para-military style in which distancing is part of appearances. Watch Hill, Misquamicut & Dunns Corners FD's utilize Southern League South Fire channel for dispatch/ops. In 1959, Vespia was fresh out of the Army. Elmer Edwards served as North Kingstown's Police Chief until December of 1948. Cloudy and windy at times with occasional rainmainly in the morning. 166 were here. The Wickford Barracks of the RI State Police housed the fledgling South county patrol formed in the early 1930's to, primarily, patrol the burgeoning state highway system that was rapidly being established throughout the southern part of Rhode Island. SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (WPRI) Rhode Island's longest serving police chief is taking off his badge. But Vespia hasnt just been in the business for an astounding six decades. This site is the official Facebook page for the South Kingstown Police Department. Police Chief serves as chair of Transportation Traffic Safety Committee. 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. . People say, Oh, he was a hell of a guy, at Thanksgiving time, hed give out turkeys. Vespia said. 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. In 1952, the N.K. Let us know in this week's poll question below. Theyd hand you a cup of coffee, or theyd make some indication, Look, were having meatloaf at 6 oclock tonight. On the other side were the rough numbers hed spend to launch a political campaign. We have strong support in the community, he said, though noted he was surprised to see protests, the first during his 19 years on the force, last summer in town. Occasionaly I will hear one bit of info transmitting. Mr. Edwards, in June of 1941, became North Kingstown's first Chief of Police presiding over a department consisting of one man. Low 28F. The South Kingstown Fire Department was called in to assist in extinguishing the flames. The 5-year-old boy disappeared in 1975, but no arrests were made. Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. 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. SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. A new deputy chief and a designated community resource officer are among the South Kingstown Police Department promotions taking effect this month. Alfred said the search of Vespias replacement will begin in about two weeks. After serving in the U.S. Army, Vespia began his career with the Rhode Island State Police in 1959, where he developed a reputation for investigating organized crime. It may not display this or other websites correctly. One of the smartest moves Ive ever made was to resist going to Providence, Vespia said. Vespia said the notion of leaving the job behind seemed to sneak up one day. Fifty dollars to kill a human being. What a sport.. There they were: A decorated, by-the-book lawman and one of his closest friends a convicted felon whose reputation had disintegrated. Do you believe schools have a responsibility to provide their students with universal, free breakfast and lunch? Although Vespias tenure will end Nov. 1, his title will remain. Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. Amateur Radio 0 Online: North Kingstown Fire Department . Cianci drew a line down the middle of the tablecloth with the pen that Vespia had given him as a Christmas present. Vespia was there as moral support for a friend looking to apply. Bucco told The Independent this week that officers have routinely had individual community-related projects or just simple efforts, such as pick-up game of basketball with teenagers, over the years. Dispatchers process confirmations on arrest warrants and relay information to requesting officers. Vespia said Patriarca took a few more bites of his dinner, got dressed, and threw on his coat. Patriarcas lawyer and a cardiologist soon joined them. On November 1, Tamburini will take over his dear friends status as the Ocean States most senior chief of police. If we can find out their needs, we can build on it.. Well so would you, and so would I.. Winds NNE at 25 to 35 mph. Dispatchers conduct computer searches through local, state, and national crime databases for wanted subjects, stolen property, driver and vehicle information. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. North Kingstown police and fire use the RISCON system for communications. Im just very, very fortunate to be able to call Vinny Vespia a colleague, Tamburini said. Although preservation of peace and protection of lives and property are the principle duties of a police officer, South Kingstown Public Safety Personnel, both sworn and civilian, also function as public service officers responsible for identifying and responding to service needs of all our citizens. One of Vespias closest friends was the late Providence Mayor Vincent Buddy Cianci, Jr. The drone located the injured woman in a deep and isolated part of the river in West Kingston. In 2012, he was inducted into the Rhode Island Criminal Justice Hall of Fame. I want to see us do more outreach, whether its to underprivileged groups, neighborhood groups, whatever it may be. We kind of grew apart, Vespia said. I said, Buddy, Christ youre in serious trouble, Vespia said. State Police said they found a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu that left the right side of the highway and struck a tree. East Providence Police and Fire: Public Safety 8 : Online: Providence: Lincoln Fire: Public Safety 3 : Online: . Police said a caller is claiming victims failed to answer a subpoena and must now pay a fine or go to jail. Courtesy: Vincent Vespia Jr. You brought him to your home?. At 79 years old, Vespia is the only leader the department has known since 1981. Fifty-seven years is a long time to be a cop, South Kingstowns Chief Vincent Vespia, Jr. said. He was 74. - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. But when it came time to report to Fort Dix, Vespia offered to rent a car and drive Cianci to New Jersey. Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. South Kingstown Police said as many as 400 people were attending the party. One day, Cianci and Vespia were at the Old Canteen restaurant. The friendship grew while Vespia was a Rhode Island State Police detective and Cianci, then a prosecutor in the state attorney generals office, worked together on cases. Some wonderful, wonderful changes have occurred.. Address traffic safety issues in the community. He will be remembered for his incredible wit and uniqueness, Vespia said. Freq PL/M Ty Input InpPL Channel Notes; 154.4075 . Cianci was concerned there would be too much press and Vespia would be criticized for his association with him, Vespia said. Raymond put a $50 bill in his pocket, Vespia said. He knew the law enforcement duo had gleaned information from sources held in protective custody. Fire and EMS services are provided by the Ashaway and Hope Valley Fire Districts. William Shock, 27, was charged with two counts of distribution and one count of possession of child pornography. Decades later, Ciancis second stint as mayor collapsed under a federal racketeering conviction in Operation Plunder Dome. In June of 1941, the town of North Kingstown appointed its first full-time police officer.