The Portsmouth Police Department is accredited by the Rhode Island Police Accreditation Commission (RIPAC).
Mission Statement
The Portsmouth Police Department impartially enforces the law while preventing crime, protecting life and property, and improving the quality of life in Portsmouth in partnership with the community.
Vision Statement
A modern police department that is committed to excellence and professionalism in delivering comprehensive problem-oriented community policing services. A department that is committed to responding to the needs of the community with respect, fairness, compassion, and integrity.
I am pleased to present the Portsmouth Police Department’s 2022 Annual Report. This report will provide our community with an overview of the police department and outline our service to the residents and visitors of the Town of Portsmouth during the latest calendar year.
In 2022 we saw significant organizational changes in our agency with the addition of three patrol sergeants and the appointment of two captains. These structural changes allowed our department to assign, for the first time in the history of our agency, a supervisor on duty 24 hours a day/365 days a year. As modern policing continues to evolve, the increased supervision will allow our department to better serve our Portsmouth community and maintain the highest standards of accountability to those we serve.
As a state accredited agency since 2017, the year 2022 saw our quest begin towards national accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). Our department has been diligently working to improve upon and maintain the highest degree of professionalism in law enforcement through effective policies that are carried out by our officers. Our agency looks forward to continuing this process as we strive to provide the public with a police agency which reflects honesty, integrity, and pride.
The department also continued its outreach this year through community-based events such as National Night Out, Halloween Trunk-or-Treat, Cops and Classrooms, Citizen Police Academy, Student Police Academy, and our Holiday Toy Drive. Our agency’s two School Resource Officers also continued to serve our school populations by providing support to the school community as well as increased safety and security for our town’s schools.
I hope that you find this report informative about our agency and the services which we provide. Additional information and helpful links can always be found on our website (www.portsmouthri.gov).
I thank you for taking the time to review our report as we thank all in the community for your continued support.
Sincerely,
BrianP.Peters
Brian P. Peters Chief of Police
Sworn Personnel
The Portsmouth Police Department, when fully staffed, is comprised of 38 sworn officers (39 including the Prudence Island Public Safety Officer) The Portsmouth Police Department’s staffing level for 2022 is 33 sworn officers (34 including the Prudence Island Public Safety Officer) as listed below:
**Duetoacontractualchangeinthestructuretothedepartment(mandatorysupervisors),therankofcaptain wentintoeffectinJuly2022andthreeadditionalsergeantswereaddedtopatrolinJuly2022**
Sworn Personnel Appointed in 2022
Officer Date of Appointment Mark Brochu July 25, 2022
Officer From Rank To Rank
Michael Morse Captain Major
John Cahoon Lieutenant Captain
Richard Ruest Lieutenant Captain
Khatu Khubchandani Sergeant Lieutenant
Patrick O’Neill Sergeant Lieutenant
Lee Trott Sergeant Lieutenant
Ryan Goyette Sergeant Lieutenant
James Francis Detective Sergeant
Michael Quinn Officer Sergeant
Ryan Stinson Officer Sergeant
Maddie Pirri Officer Sergeant
Kyle Hurley Officer Sergeant
Clinton Spurlock Officer Sergeant
Bruce Celico Officer Sergeant
James Thulier Officer Detective
JeanMarie Stewart Officer Detective
Matthew Wilson Officer Detective
Officer
Michael Arnold
Garrett Coyne
Nicholas Arruda
Jacob Silva
Richard Doyle
Alyssa Comeau
The Portsmouth Police Department, when fully staffed, is comprised of 5 civilian department members. The Portsmouth Police Department’s allocation for 2022 is 5 civilian department members as listed below:
The Portsmouth Police Department’s Strategic Plan serves as a guide for the organization’s priorities over the next five years. The plan was finalized in 2022, with input from our officers, as well as the community, and will help continue the department’s path forward pledging honesty, integrity, and pride to the public that the department serves and protects. The strategies identified in the plan hope to aid our department in the department’s quest to continually improve upon the services the department provides, as the department continues to progress as a modern policing agency. Included in this plan is the attainment of national accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement (CALEA) which will enhance community trust by enacting, maintaining, and following the highest standards of police professionalism. This plan consists of five (5) focus categories that will serve as the vision for growth and advancement of the Portsmouth Police Department.
The Portsmouth Police Department’s full strategic plan can be found here:
https://portsmouthri.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5028/Strategic-Plan-2022-2026
Enhancing Community Trust
• CALEA Accreditation
• Citizens Police Academy Continuance
• Youth Leadership Camp
• Social Media Expansion
Equipment & Technology
• Fleet Replacement Plan
• Body-Worn Camera Implementation
• Cybersecurity Enhancement
• Less Than Lethal Force Improvements
Facilities
• P.I. Public Safety Facility
• Firearms Range Improvements
Department Structure & Special Services
• Mandatory Supervisors
• Traffic Division
• Search & Rescue K9
• Computer Crimes Specialist
Officer Wellness & Professional Development
• Physical Fitness Experts
• Enhanced Peer Support
• Family Police Support Programs
• Continued Career Support
• Training Hosting & Planning
The Chief of Police is the Chief Administrative Officer of the Police Department and is responsible for its effective and efficient operation and the enforcement of rules and regulations of all laws within the town's legal jurisdiction. The Chief exercises all lawful powers of the office and issues such lawful orders as are necessary to assure the professional performance of the department. The Chief of Police is the final authority in all matters relating to policy, procedures, operations, and discipline as provided by law.
Deputy Chief of Police
The Deputy Chief of Police is the second in command of the agency and subject to the direction and control of the Chief. The Deputy Chief is responsible for the supervision of all officers and is accountable for their performance. The Deputy Chief exercises all lawful powers of his office and issues such lawful orders as necessary to assure the professional performance of the police department. The Deputy Chief performs various functions relating to the administration and operation of the department as directed by the Chief of Police. In the Chief's absence, the Deputy Chief will assume the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the Chief subject to any limitations set by the Chief.
Administrative Captain
The Administrative Captain oversees both the administrative and detective divisions. The Administrative Captain is the commanding officer of the Administrative Lieutenant, the Detective Lieutenant, the Administrative Sergeant, the Detective Sergeant, the Detective Inspectors, the Animal Control Officer, the Records Division, the Police Mechanic, Prudence Island Public Safety, and the Reserve Officers.
Administrative Lieutenant
The Administrative Lieutenant oversees and has control of the operational responsibilities for the records department, computers, programming, radio systems, telephone systems, vehicle fleet, equipment, and building maintenance
Administrative Sergeant
The Administrative Sergeant oversees and has control of accreditation management and the department’s training division. The Administrative Sergeant is the direct supervisor of the records department, prudence island public safety, animal control officer, and the reserve officers for the department.
The Detective Division of the Portsmouth Police Department conducts criminal investigations into those who commit felony crimes, misdemeanor crimes, and violations of the Rhode Island General Laws. Investigations are completed in a manner that ensures the constitutional rights of all individuals. The detective lieutenant serves as the public information officer of the department for criminal investigations.
The Detective Division is comprised of a detective assigned to prosecution, a detective assigned to juvenile investigations, and a detective assigned to general investigations.
The Detective Division also oversees sex offender compliance within the Town of Portsmouth, background check investigations, and Access to Public Records Act requests. The Detective Division serves as liaisons for the Department of Healthy Aging, Newport County Mental Health, D.C.Y.F., and any other organization that works in conjunction with providing successful and needed services for individuals. The detective assigned to juvenile investigations serves as the liaison to the Town of Portsmouth’s Juvenile Hearing Board.
The Detective Division is staffed by 1 detective lieutenant, 1 detective sergeant, and 3 detective inspectors. Administrative Captain John Cahoon oversees the Detective Division.
The Patrol Division of the Portsmouth Police Department is responsible for all law enforcement duties within the Town of Portsmouth. The Patrol Division conducts preliminary criminal investigations, motor vehicle accident investigations, enforces laws and town ordinances, provides continuous patrols, performs a variety of community services, and acts as a first response to all incidents and emergencies. As part of the Patrol Division, there are assigned traffic officers that are responsible for all traffic safety inquiries and for implementing requested traffic enforcement throughout the Town of Portsmouth. The Patrol Division is made up of both fully marked and stealth patrol vehicles including 2 police motorcycles.
The Patrol Division provides 24-hour policing services spread over 3 shifts each staffed with 2 sergeants and a shift commander holding the rank of lieutenant. Patrol Captain Richard Ruest oversees the Patrol Division.
Dayshift – 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Shift Commander: Lieutenant Mark Mooney
Evening Shift – 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Shift Commander: Lieutenant Lee Trott
Overnight Shift – 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Shift Commander: Lieutenant Ryan Goyette
The harbormaster for the Town of Portsmouth is a full-time police officer with the department. The harbormaster is re-assigned to fulfill these duties from Memorial Day through Labor Day during the active boating season. The harbormaster is responsible for the patrol of waters that surround the town and to enforce all applicable state laws and local town ordinances related to water activities.
The Harbor Master is also responsible for handling the assignment of all moorings throughout the town, including Prudence and Hog Islands. There are over 1,000 moorings in the Town of Portsmouth. With over 50 miles of shoreline, Portsmouth has the most shoreline of any town in the state which includes patrolling Prudence, Patience, and Hog Islands.
The Harbor Master is also assisted by members of the Portsmouth Police Department who have been trained in boating safety and patrolling the waters of Portsmouth.
Harbormaster: Sergeant Bruce Celico
The Records Division is responsible for the safe storage and maintenance of all police reports within the department. The Records Division is also responsible for the public’s access to public records (A.P.R.A.) to ensure that requests are fulfilled in an expeditious manner. The responsibilities and duties of this position are of a highly confidential nature and the clerk is responsible for the filing, indexing, and photocopying records, preparing departmental payroll information, maintaining departmental time sheets, answering all inquiries and complaints from the public relating to accident reports and related, and provides procedural information and assistance to other departments in person, by letter and/or by telephone. Expungements, employment background checks, and firearms purchase requests are also handled through the Records Division.
Records Clerk: Ms. Tracy LePage
The purpose of this position is to maintain all police vehicles, the police building, and police grounds in a reliable and safe condition to be available for service according to approved standards. The work involves performing all types of equipment maintenance, preventative maintenance, building and ground maintenance, and repair work. This includes performing routine and specialized maintenance for all vehicles, maintaining vehicles in the most costeffective manner, recording all maintenance, and recommending maintenance and repair improvements to reduce overall operating costs. The Vehicle Mechanic / Building Maintenance employee is responsible for maintaining and improving upon the efficiency and effectiveness of all areas under his direction and control.
Vehicle Mechanic: Mr. Jason Farias
The Police Custodian performs custodial maintenance duties, including dusting, mopping, trash removal, finishing and buffing floors, vacuuming, cleaning, and restocking the restrooms. The Police Custodian is responsible for the cleanliness and appearance of the police headquarters building, an approximate 23,000 square foot facility.
Police Custodian: Ms. Marilsa Do Nascimento
The Animal Control Officer (ACO) is responsible for enforcing all state laws and town ordinances involving domesticated animals in the Town of Portsmouth. The ACO is also responsible for the pick-up of stray animals and attempting to locate their owners. The ACO works with the Potter League in Middletown, RI, for town licensing and sheltering found domesticated animals until claimed by their owner. The ACO ensures that dog licenses are renewed every April for the period of May 1st through April 30th .
• 74 rabies exposure events (animal to human bites/pets exposed to wildlife, etc. that required quarantine/confinement/observation)
o 33 resulted from dog bites
o 12 resulted from cat bites/scratches to people.
• 1,503 dogs licensed
• 36 citations issued (inclusive of warnings)
o 26 of which were leash law violations
• 23 stray animals brought to the Potter League
o 7 cats
o 1 chicken
o 15 dogs
• 123 incident reports initiated by the animal control officer
• 48 incident reports initiated by the patrol division and followed-up by the animal control officer
Animal Control Officer: Elizabeth Futoma
The Prudence Island Public Safety Officer is responsible for the safety of the residents of Prudence Island. As part of the municipality of Portsmouth, all calls for service on Prudence Island are taken by the Portsmouth Police Department. The Patrol Division works with the Prudence Island Public Safety Officer to ensure continuous service to Prudence Island.
Prudence Island Public Safety Officer: Safety Officer Tanis Tavernier
The Portsmouth Police Department enjoys partnerships through memorandums of understanding with both the Rhode Island State Police and the United States Marshals Service. In 2022, 2 officers from the Portsmouth Police Department were assigned, part-time, to the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) which is managed by the Rhode Island State Police. In 2022, 1 officer from the Portsmouth Police Department was assigned, parttime, to the Violent Fugitive Task Force.
“The Rhode Island Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force is a multi-agency group comprised of sworn federal, state, and local law enforcement officials, local prosecution officials, local educators, private information technologists and mental health professionals throughout the State of Rhode Island. As a law enforcement-oriented task force, the primary goal is to protect children. The ICAC Task Force is charged with the prevention, interdiction, investigation, and prosecution of individuals who use the Internet to exploit children. This task force also seeks to combat crimes against children through the Internet by vigorous investigation and prosecution of offenders” (Rhode Island State Police website).
The Portsmouth Police Department along with other municipal officers, and the Rhode Island State Police works in conjunction with the United States Marshal's Office in a coordinated effort to track and locate known violent offenders as members of the Rhode Island Fugitive Task Force (VFTF). The RI VFTF was formulated to target subjects who are wanted for violent crimes in the area. The Task Force also targets prison escapees, parole violators and violent juvenile offenders.
This grant is used to provide officers with new bulletproof vests every 5 years.
In 2022, the Portsmouth Police Department, along with the majority of the State of Rhode Island law enforcement agencies, was awarded funding to purchase body-worn cameras for all first responding officers.
Highway Safety Grant
The highway safety grant provides funding for the following traffic safety focus areas: Speed, D.U.I., Click it or Ticket (seat belt), Child Passenger Safety, Distracted Driving, Pedestrian Safety, and commercial truck enforcement.
In 2022, the Portsmouth Police Department, was provided funding for 2 speed feedback signs through the Office of Highway Safety. The speed feedback signs can be placed throughout the town in response to complaints and proactively to help slow speeding vehicles in Portsmouth.
Both the Newport County and Portsmouth Prevention Coalitions are strong partners with the Portsmouth Police Department. Both organizations provide funding for alcohol prevention initiatives to the department. In 2022, this community partnership led to funding for the SIDNE Go-Kart (Simulated Impaired Driving Experience). This initiative seeks to prevent youth from driving under the influence through a hands-on driving experience.
2022 What’s Your Speed? Campaign
Askyourself,askyourfriends,askyourfamily…….What’sYourSpeed?
In 2022, the Portsmouth Police Department began the educational initiative of “What’s Your Speed?” Officers at the Portsmouth Police Department always remain dedicated to traffic safety and remain vigilant with enforcement on Portsmouth roadways throughout the year. This initiative promoted the idea of motorists checking their speedometers during their travels and asking themselves, how fast am I going? Whether on our main roadways, through school zones, or in local neighborhoods, the department asked vehicle operators to be mindful of their speeds.
In 2022, the Portsmouth Police Department, with the help of the RI Department of Transportation and the Office on Highway Safety, sought to raise awareness about pedestrian safety. Once again, the department utilized a three-pronged approach to enforce traffic laws and to educate motorists regarding pedestrian safety.
During this time, the Portsmouth Police heightened the enforcement of the state's pedestrian safety laws through the addition of extra traffic patrol officers. Throughout the school year, three different planned traffic safety programs are implemented to combat and prevent any issues regarding student safety.
Crosswalk Compliance Program: Heavy enforcement of school area crosswalks utilizing undercover officers.
Safe Transportation Of Portsmouth Students (STOPS) Program: Officers in low profile vehicles traveling the school bus routes to ensure vehicle traffic comes to a halt for pedestrian students exiting from busses.
Protecting Student Drop-offs (PSD) Program: Police onsite at the schools educating and assisting pedestrians and motorists due to the increased traffic congestion in the school parking lots and surrounding roadways.
Every summer the Portsmouth Police Department commences an effort to combat speeding and reckless operation of motor vehicles on the roadways of Portsmouth. The effort, Operation Safe Summer, is a highly visible and coordinated approach to traffic safety that runs from the 4th of July to Labor Day.
At different times and different locations, an increased presence of police activity is observable by motorists traveling on both East Main Road and West Main Road. High visibility traffic enforcement is the goal of the operation which seeks to lower the rate of crashes and eliminate aggressive driving actions of motorists on the roadways. These efforts seek to keep the roadways safe so that all can enjoy a safe summer.
Officer Maddie Pirri received the State Grange Award for her work in the area of community policing and being named Officer of the Year by the organization.
Officer Czajka, Detective Thulier, Officer Serina, and Officer Szczepaniak (not pictured) were recognized as the top DUI enforcers and recognized by Mothers Against Drunk Driving for their efforts in enforcement of Rhode Island’s drunk driving laws. These officers worked proactively to prevent tragedies on our roadways by way of hard work and aggressive enforcement efforts throughout the town.
The Department’s 8th annual award ceremony was held at the Glen Manor House on September 29, 2022. There were 16 total awards issued at the ceremony with 10 different officers named as the recipients of the awards for their dedicated service to the Town of Portsmouth.
The Distinguished Service Award recognizes an incident where an officer’s courage, resourcefulness, tenacity, diligence and/or perseverance in the line of duty goes beyond that which is normally encountered by members in the protection of life or property, the prevention of a major crime, or the apprehension of an armed or dangerous criminal.
Recipient: Patrol Officer Austin Szczepaniak
The meritorious service award is given to members of the department who on any given occasion during the year display a high degree of initiative, professionalism, and/or bravery during the performance of their duties.
Recipient: Patrol Officer Austin Szczepaniak
The community service award is presented to a member of the department who makes a significant contribution, above and beyond the ordinary call of duty, to the community service component of the department’s mission. The award recognizes a department member’s diligence, teamwork, perseverance, and problem-solving ability. It is presented to an officer who exemplifies the highest standards of community policing.
Recipient: Sergeant Maddie Pirri
Recipient: Detective Inspector JeanMarie Stewart
Chief’s Award
The Chief’s award is presented to a member of the department for a noteworthy act in the performance of their duties, or police work that exemplifies excellence.
Recipient: Detective Inspector Matthew Wilson
Recipient: Patrol Officer Allison O’Connor
Recipient: Patrol Officer Kimberly DaSilva
Recipient: Patrol Officer Austin Szczepaniak (x2)
Recipient: Patrol Officer Caleb McQuaide
Recipient: Patrol Officer Ryan Czajka (x2)
Awards of Merit are awards for accomplishments in noteworthy law enforcement related disciplines.
Recipient: Patrol Officer Austin Szczepaniak (DUI ‘50’)
Recipient: Patrol Officer Ryan Czajka (DUI ‘50’)
Recipient: Patrol Officer Daniel Serina (DUI ‘50’)
Recipient: Detective Inspector James Thulier (Top Shot)
