Changes in top police command

Kelley is first woman major at Warwick PD

John Howell
Posted 3/26/15

When Christine A. Kelley became a Warwick cop in 1989, she started off at the bottom just like every other probationary officer. She was assigned to the third patrol. Her beat was Oakland Beach and …

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Changes in top police command

Kelley is first woman major at Warwick PD

Posted

When Christine A. Kelley became a Warwick cop in 1989, she started off at the bottom just like every other probationary officer. She was assigned to the third patrol. Her beat was Oakland Beach and Conimicut.

And when Kelley was promoted to sergeant, she started off at the bottom again. She worked third patrol. Guess what, when she was promoted to lieutenant she was assigned to the third patrol. The same thing happened when named a captain. She was in charge of the night patrol.

That’s the way it works in the department, you start at the bottom and work your way up.

This May, Kelley will reach a rank no other female Warwick Police officer has ever achieved. She will be promoted to major. There are two majors as the department is currently structured. One oversees operations; the other is in charge of administration.

Kelley doesn’t know which of the two areas she will be responsible for. But, one thing is for sure, she won’t be on the third patrol.

For the past five years, Captain Kelley has been in charge of the department’s prosecution division, overseeing three other officers and three civilians. A domestic violence advocate retained by Day One also works out of the office.

For a police officer that is achieving new levels for her gender, Kelley doesn’t project the image of the tough cop. She smiles and laughs frequently. But that’s not to say she hasn’t had some tough times, although she has never fired her weapon in the line of duty.

“I’ve come close,” she says with a smile that makes one wonder what happened. “I’ve been there for the barricades [when someone locks themselves in a building and is threatening harm with a gun or another weapon].”

And then there was an escapee from the police department. A suspect detained in the cell area kicked his way out of the building and fled on foot. Kelley ran after the man and with the help of the K-9 unit and flushed him out of hiding in a pitch-black basement.

In another incident, Kelley was part of a team who disarmed a man with a shotgun who was threatening to harm himself and others. The shotgun was grabbed while the man was distracted.

Kelley isn’t one of those consumed by her job. When she’s on the job she focuses on the job, but when the day is over she enjoys getting home and taking her two rescue dogs out for a hike. She’s also into mountain biking and volunteering at the Warwick Animal Shelter, where she specializes in training shelter dogs. Her favorite off-duty activity is traveling. She’s traveled thoughout this country and many countries in Central and South America. The display board of entering the prosecution division feature postcards from many of her travels.

Asked about police work, surprisingly Kelley doesn’t list it as her first love. That goes for the community of Warwick.

She graduated from Veterans Memorial High School and then went on to study and earn degrees from a number of institutions including CCRI, Roger Williams University, Salve Regina University and Bryant. She has also completed courses at the RI Municipal Police Academy, Springfield Police Department, Hutchinson Law Enforcement Training, Federal Emergency Management Agency plus several others.

What she loves about her work is its diversity and the people.

She doesn’t really miss the night patrols, although, she confesses, “I’m still a cop and I get my hands dirty once and a while.”

One of those incidents that sticks in her mind happened at the auto store in Governor Francis. The shelving in the outlet collapsed, trapping a retired firefighter under a maze of steel shelves and boxes. Police and firefighters worked feverishly to clear things away and get to the man before it was too late.

“I guess his training as a firefighter paid off,” Kelley said.

After 45 minutes the man was freed, he stood up, brushed himself off and walked out of the store. She smiles at the thought of the incident. As she observes, as a cop you never know what to expect.

But Col. Stephen McCartney knows what to expect. He knows Kelley is ready for the responsibility.

McCartney said with the departure of Major Raymond Galluci this week – Gallucci will be assuming command of the 14-member security force at Warwick Mall – he expects “to be doing some changes” within the department structure.

The Board of Public Safety is expected to vote on Kelley’s promotion in May.

Comments

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  • patientman

    Congratulations and good luck!

    Friday, March 27, 2015 Report this

  • allent

    just promoted? means she's retiring soon

    Friday, March 27, 2015 Report this