The Warwick Police Department was established in 1921. Prior to that the villages of Warwick were policed by constables and sheriffs since 1648. The department currently has 172 sworn police officers supported by 53 civilian employees that provide municipal policing services to a residential population of 81,000.
Your input concerning the content and navigation of this website is invaluable to us. Please give us your recommendations or critique here.
The Warwick Police Department welcomes you to complete a victim/witness survey if you have been the victim or witness to a crime
Officer Steve Lombardi received the regional Officer of the Year Award last night from the Rhode Island State Grange. If you know this man you will certainly agree that it is well deserved. Many people talk about the prototypical "Officer Friendly", but Steve is absolutely the nicest officer you've probably ever met. But don't let that fool you. Not only does he make all the connections in the community, he also spearheads RI's local PD participation in the Solemn Task Force. The task force, headed by the US Marshal's office, keeps track and tabs on all of RI's sex offenders.
The Grange is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization based in more than 2,100 hometowns across America. They have nearly 150 years of history and spirit of grassroots advocacy. The Grange, whose roots start in agriculture, works throughout Rhode Island, supporting farmers, collaborating with Agriculture and Conservations groups, promoting community activities, volunteering with animal shelters and food pantries, raising funds for scholarships and helping veterans and the hearing impaired.
The Warwick Police Department Underwater Search and Recovery Team was formed in the summer of 1988. The mission of the Warwick Police Department dive team is to conduct underwater crime scene investigations and evidence recovery. The team is trained in specialized areas of diving including vehicle and aircraft recovery, ice diving, and hull search operations. The dive team trains every month-even under the ice. The Officers pictured are Det. Shaun Turcotte and Off Bob Hart.
Colonel McCartney and Mayor Avedisian kick off the start of Warwick PD's 25th Citizens Police Academy Wednesday night. 30 citizens will participate under the tutelage of Off Steve Nelson. Good luck and enjoy.
Warwick Police Officer on Patrol observes residence on fire. Evacuates six. September 10, 2015
On Thursday, September 10, 2015 at 0031 hours, Officer David Waddington, an 11 year veteran of the Warwick Police Department, was on patrol in the area of 975 Narragansett Parkway when he observed the residence and an attached garage at that location engulfed in a substantial amount of flames.
Officer Waddington summoned assistance from the fire department and then was able to safely evacuate the residents, which resided there. Four adults, two juveniles, and two dogs were safely rescued by Officer Waddington. One cat is currently missing.
Warwick Fire arrived and extinguished the blaze. The male resident was treated by Warwick Fire for smoke inhalation. Other residents were not injured. One Firefighter was transported to Kent Hospital with minor injuries. The American Red Cross assisted the family with shelter.
POC: Captain Andrew P. Tainsh Warwick Police Department 401-468-4365
The Warwick Police Department announces the arrest of a registered sex offender for violation of a new RI law aimed at protecting children. It is believed that this arrest is one of the first of its kind in the State of RI since the legislation was just recently passed according to Colonel Stephen M. McCartney of the Warwick Police Department.
McCartney states that on September 2, 2015, the Warwick Police Department along with members of the US Marshall's SOLEMN (Sex Offender Law Enforcement Multidisciplinary Network) task force arrested Heath Gagne, 40 years of age, from Vallette St. in Cranston charging him with violation of Prohibition from Employment- Child Safe Zones which is a felony. The arrest came as a result of shared information and a cooperative investigation with the West Warwick Police Department.
Gagne was arrested by the West Warwick Police Department on August 22, 2015, for failure to notify them of a change of address which is required of all registered sex offenders. During the course of that arrest, Detective Matt Beltrami of the West Warwick Police Department learned that Gagne currently worked for a subcontractor of a local amusement company who operates carnivals throughout the area. Upon learning this, Detective Beltrami conferred with Tracy Lapointe-Webber of Kent County Probation and they determined that Gagne's employment constituted a violation of the new statute. Detective Beltrami advised Gagne of the new law which prohibited him as a registered sex offender from working at the carnivals.
Follow up investigation revealed that Gagne had in fact returned to work at a carnival in Warwick on both August 22nd and 23rd after being advised by the detective that it was in fact unlawful to do so. Warrants were drawn for the arrest of Gagne by Warwick Police Officer Stephen Lombardi who is a member of the SOLEMN task force and along with the US Marshall's and Cranston Police Department he was taken into custody without incident.
"The arrest of Gagne demonstrates how the collaborative efforts of the US Marshall's Sex Offender task force along with local law enforcement and probation continues to help keep our children safe", stated Colonel McCartney.
CONTACT: Lieutenant Michael Gilbert, OIC Community Services Division, 401-468-4344.
