Cranston Police Department Welcomes Seven New Officers to the Ranks
Cranston – Mayor Allan Fung and Colonel Michael J. Winquist, Chief of the Cranston Police Department, announce that Wednesday afternoon, seven new officers were sworn in at a ceremony at Cranston City Hall. The new officers include Daniel Langlais, Thomas Lavey, James Murray, Leonard McIntyre, Dustin Merry, Andrea Smith and Robert Maione. All of the aforementioned officers graduated this morning from the 127th class of the Rhode Island Municipal Police Training Academy, with the exception of Officers Smith and Maione who previously graduated from the Rhode Island Municipal Police Training Academy before transferring from the East Providence Police Department and North Smithfield Police Department respectively.
Daniel Langlais is a 2003 graduate of Cranston High School West and later earned an Associate’s of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from the Community College of Rhode Island. Officer Langlais has served in the Army Air National Guard since 2011 where he completed military police training and holds the rank of Sergeant. Prior to entering the Municipal Police Training Academy, Langlais was employed by Cox Fleet Services as a vehicle maintenance technician.
Thomas Lavey is a 2010 graduate of Cranston High School East and later earned an Associate’s of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from the Community College of Rhode Island. Prior to entering the Municipal Police Training Academy, Officer Lavey was employed by Cintas Corporation as a production supervisor of service personnel.
James Murray is a 2009 graduate of Scituate High School and later earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Sociology from the University of Rhode Island. Prior to entering the Municipal Police Training Academy, Officer Murray was employed by the Wyatt Detention Center as a correctional officer. Officer Murray will be following in the footsteps of his father Detective Jack Murray who retired from the Providence Police Department.
Leonard McIntyre is a 2008 graduate of Cranston High School East. Officer McIntyre is a Unites States Marine Corp veteran with deployments to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. While serving in Afghanistan, he attained the rank of Corporal. During his military service he earned various awards including the Afghanistan Service Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal. Officer McIntyre continues to serve in the military as a Rhode Island Air National Guard reservist. Prior to entering the Municipal Police Training Academy, Officer McIntyre was employed by the Connecticut Department of Corrections as a correctional officer.
Dustin Merry is a 2005 graduate of Pilgrim High School and later earned an Associate’s Degree in Business Management from the University of Phoenix. Prior to entering the Municipal Police Training Academy, Officer Merry was employed by Bald Hill Dodge as a sales manager.
Andrea Smith is a 2006 graduate of Cranston High School West and later earned an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice from the Community College of Rhode Island. Prior to joining the Cranston Police Department, Officer Smith served as an East Providence Police Department for one year after graduating the Rhode Island Municipal Police Training Academy. Officer Smith is following in the footsteps of her father, former Cranston Police Colonel Augustine Comella.
Robert Maione is a 2008 graduate of the South Kingstown High School. He is currently enrolled in the Bachelors of Science Criminal Justice program at Rhode Island College. He graduated from the Rhode Island Municipal Training Academy in 2011, at which time he joined the North Smithfield Police Department. While serving as a North Smithfield Police Officer, he received various departmental awards including the Department Excellence Award for traffic enforcement and the Leadership Award for performance in the line of duty. He is also a certified traffic accident reconstructionist and a FBI certified firearms instructor.
Colonel Winquist stated, “The Cranston Police Department is fortunate to welcome seven new officers to our ranks with a wide array of life and professional experience, combined with strong educational backgrounds. Several of the new Officers have prior public service while serving as police officers, correctional officers and in our nation’s military. These officers are entering the field of law enforcement at a particularly challenging time in our country’s history. I confident these officers have been provided with the necessary training and skills to succeed in meeting the many challenges and rigors they will face while carrying out their duties and responsibilities as police officers. The importance of serving the community with dignity and respect will be ingrained in these officers from the day they are sworn in as a Cranston Police Officers and will continue to be reinforced throughout the careers. I congratulate these officers and their families and wish them all long, safe and rewarding careers.”
Mayor Fung stated, “Cranston residents enjoy being served by a high quality police department and these seven new officers are poised to continue that tradition of excellence. Each brings a unique background and set of experiences to the department but they all share the same dedication and willingness to make the sacrifices associated with a career in public service. The job of police officer is not easy, both for the men and women who don the uniform each day and their family members, who endure sleepless nights and worry every moment their loved ones are on the job. I extend my sincerest thanks and congratulations to these new officers and commend them for their hard work leading up to today’s swearing-in ceremony.»