NEWS

Top cop sets course

Posted 1/21/21

By JOHN HOWELL Bradford Connor was on the job Monday, and by Tuesday, even before officially being sworn in as Warwick Chief of Police, he was meeting with Mayor Frank Picozzi. Slowing down Warwick traffic is on the mayor's agenda. Picozzi has heard the

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NEWS

Top cop sets course

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Bradford Connor was on the job Monday, and by Tuesday, even before officially being sworn in as Warwick Chief of Police, he was meeting with Mayor Frank Picozzi.

Slowing down Warwick traffic is on the mayor’s agenda. Picozzi has heard the complaints of vehicles racing through neighborhoods and concerns over the safety of children and residents who may be out walking their dog, jogging or bicycling.

But Connor isn’t looking to write reams of tickets.

“Community policing is one of the best ways to interact with the public,” he said. “It’s [reducing speeding] not just tickets.”

Rather, he explained, it’s a matter of police presence and heightening awareness.

Connor is no stranger to the department. As deputy chief under Col. Stephen McCartney, he appeared to be his likely successor. However, when McCartney retired sooner than he had planned, Mayor Joseph Solomon tapped Rick Rathbun for the top slot. Connor left the department to do some traveling in this country and then went to work as head of security for Women & Infants Hospital.

The 2020 mayoral election changed everything.

Connor learned Picozzi was looking to make a change in department leadership. Returning to the Warwick department appealed to him. He met with the transition team and Picozzi. He talked with McCartney, who surely is one of his biggest fans.

Reached Tuesday afternoon, McCartney said Connor “was one of those guys who stood out as a young patrolman.” He said Connor was always dedicated, professional and kept his cool under stressful situations, including a few hostage standoffs. He said Connor works with the team and while he believes he finished first in every promotional exam, he did not flaunt it.

“I was hoping he would succeed me,” McCartney said. He added that he doesn’t mean this to the detriment of Rathbun who he likewise called a dedicated and hardworking officer, but Connor was his pick and that’s why he recommended him as his deputy chief.

What can Warwick expect from Connor?

“He’s a 24 and seven chief of police,” McCartney said.

McCartney said members of the department could expect to see him all hours of the day and night. “He’s one of the finest police officers I’ve ever worked with.”

During the swearing-in and promotional ceremony Tuesday evening at Veterans Middle School, Connor was pinned by his wife, Carla Cavanaugh, a detective with the Providence Police Department. The event also saw the promotion of six officers, recognition of Detective Keri-Lynn Leighton and the pinning of two sergeants who had previously been promoted but not formally recognized during a ceremony, as well as the pinning of 14 probationary officers who have joined the department since the last ceremony.

Welcome back

In his remarks, Mayor Picozzi called Warwick the finest department in the state, saying, “at a time of increased tension in our society, and heightened skepticism of your profession you have acted with, and shown the utmost professionalism.”

Picozzi highlighted Connor’s 22-year tenure with the department.

“Colonel, it is my pleasure to welcome you back to the ranks of the Warwick Police Department and I look forward to having you at the helm of this great department,” he said.

In his remarks, Connor said the department is built on a foundation of pride, tradition and service to citizens.

“In modern times we’ve adapted to a culture of open and transparent policing, and have embraced the relationship with the community that we swore an oath to protect,” he said.

Connor noted officers wear a patch with the motto “To Serve and Protect with Integrity,” and that police values include dedication and the delivery of effective and efficient police services.

True heroes

“But first and foremost among our department values is the recognition of the value and worth of each of our employees. Together we will work to ensure that our department members continue to receive state-of-the-art training, modern equipment and that the physical and mental well being of our employees is a top priority,” he said.

Addressing the men and women of the department, Connor said, “you have been asked to take on the role of mental health professional, work on the front lines of an opioid crisis and navigate the course of your daily duties during a pandemic. You are the true heroes of Warwick. I encourage you to continue to look after one another, to commit to values based policing and to strive to bring empathy and kindness to those in need while being firm and fair as you enforce our laws and ordinances.”

In his closing, Commander Mark Ullucci, who served as master of ceremonies, referenced Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream” speech where he asks that children be judged by the content of their character.

“Tonight we celebrate new leadership whose appointment is defined by that very character. Regardless of your rank or how much time you have as a police officer, think of the content of your own character and never stop working on it.”

In an interview, Connor named McCartney and retired Deputy Chief Michael Babula as mentors.

Looking ahead

Connor said he hasn’t taken a “deep dive” on the budget but is confident that with a force of 171 – the department is budgeted for a complement of 175 – the department has what it needs to do the job. He said he has “confidence” in his administrative staff and other than promotions from within the force as personnel retire doesn’t foresee any imminent staffing changes.

Although not of immediate concern, he anticipates discussion over the use of body-worn cameras as departments across the country face increasing scrutiny. He said Warwick is in the “exploratory phase” of using the cameras. A consideration is the software for the cameras and the ability to store the video they produce.

He is concerned by what he sees as waning interest in law enforcement, observing he can remember the day when the department received 300 and 400 applications in a recruiting drive and “now we’re lucky to get 25 to 50.” He said the department is conducting interviews this week and that recruiting drives to build a list from which officers are chosen to fill vacancies is now an annual rather than every other year occurrence.

“We’ve been in a rough patch nationwide,” Connor said of law enforcement and calls to defund police.

Apart from pulling together a budget for the upcoming year, Connor is also faced with contract talks. The current contract with the Fraternal Order of Police expires on June 30.

Connor joined the Warwick Police Department in 1996. He spent many of his years in the Community Services Division, first as a Community Police Officer where he worked alongside community groups to address quality of life issues, then ultimately moving through the ranks where he would serve as officer in charge of the division. His career also included assignments in the Patrol Division, Detective Division and Professional Standards Division. He would complete his 16-year tenure on the department’s Special Weapons and Tactics Team as the Team Commander.

Connor served as commander of both the Operations and Administrative bureaus prior to his promotion to the rank of deputy chief of police before his retirement in April 2019.

Connor holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Saint Anselm College and lives in Greenwood.

Connor also serves on the Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls Club of Warwick.

Promotions made by the Board of Public Safety Tuesday night are: Capt. Andrew F. Sullivan, Capt.John J. McAniff III, Lt. Steven M. Nelson, Sgt. Gregory I. Johnson, Sgt. Aaron C. Kay and Sgt. Christopher R. Cote.

Recognized for their earlier promotion and pinned were Sgt. William E. Castaldi and Sgt. Charles A. Austin Jr.

Officers joining the ranks but not previously pinned are: Michael P. Rocchio, Stanley J. Hermanowski Jr., Nicholas E. DeMarco, Nia L. Pina, Andrew D. Distelhurst, Keara M. Enos, Nathan D. Sandin, Ryan E. Costa, Nathaniel Gray, Tyler J. Luiz, David M. Gaulin, Evan P. Brown, Rahja O. Laster and Michael C. Maccarone.

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  • chrisp1968

    Because we have a very effective police department, I dont see much crime personally. Most drivers are courteous and careful, but the self-centered jerks doing 40mph+ on residential streets, and, RUNNING RED LIGHTS, is something I do see often, and it is aggravating. Glad that's in the conversation!

    Wednesday, January 27, 2021 Report this