By Jim Ignasher
Click on images to enlarge.
The town of Smithfield was established in the spring of 1730 after having been set apart form what was then the Town of Providence. At the time of its incorporation, Smithfield included the present-day municipalities of North Smithfield, Lincoln, Central Falls, and that portion of Woonsocket south of the Blackstone River. The entire population of the new town was between 400 and 450 people, spread out over an area of approximately 75 square miles.
Constable badge worn By Sayles Williams (B. 1845 – D. 1927).
The first town meeting was held on March 17, 1730, and it was at this meeting that the town’s first officials were elected and appointed. Uriah Mowry was chosen to be Smithfield’s town sergeant. Elisha Steere, David Comstock, and Joseph Herendeen Jr., were appointed constables. It’s unclear exactly what their duties were, but it’s likely they performed some law enforcement duties as well as serving civil process.
Constables of the 18th century were modeled after the constabulary system used in England at the time. They didn’t wear uniforms, and didn’t patrol a beat or answer “calls” the way their modern counterparts do, and being a constable wasn’t their full-time occupation. When it came to compensation, some may have received a small stipend, while other times they were paid from fees collected for serving legal papers, or paid on a case by case basis for serving arrest warrants, or guarding and transporting prisoners to court.
The Constables came under the direction of the town sergeant, who was voted into his position by the town council on a yearly basis. Constables were appointed to one year terms by the town council, usually, but not always, on the recommendation of the town sergeant. Since appointments to office were granted by the town council, an officer’s tenure was subject to change with new administrations.
In 1738 a pair of stocks, or “pillorys” were erected at town expense, along with a whipping post, to punish law breakers. Besides being whipped, a convicted offender could be forced to stand in the stocks for long periods of time. Such punishments are considered barbaric by today’s standards, but one must remember that this was almost fifty years before the U. S. Constitution came into existence. In more severe cases, the convict would be transported to the Providence Jail, or “gaol” as it was called.
Early law enforcement for most New England towns was hap-hazard at best, being left to untrained constables or deputy sheriffs. Even large cities such as Boston, Hartford, and Providence, didn’t formally establish their police departments until 1853, 1860, and 1864. That’s not to say that police officers weren’t needed in rural 18th and 19th century America, for even towns like Smithfield dealt with violent crime.
A case in point occurred in 1855 when the body of a 22-year-old man was found on the Smithfield side of the Blackstone River near the Globe Bridge which in those days connected Smithfield and Woonsocket. Coroner Spencer Mowry examined the body and determined that the man had been murdered, and impaneled a Coroner’s Jury of lay-people to investigate. It was subsequently learned that the dead man was last seen alive in the company of two men on the Smithfield side of the bridge. Research has been unable to determine if the crime was ever solved.
The town of Smithfield was divided in 1871, at which time its borders became as we know them today. Policing in Smithfield continued under the constabulary system.
Town records indicate that by the early 1890s Smithfield had established two “bridewells”; an English term for jails; one in Greenville and the other in Georgiaville. (It’s possible that other bridewells might have existed even earlier.)
The Georgiaville bridewell was located in a stone house on Whipple Avenue that likely belonged to the Bernon Mill. The Greenville bridewell was located in the basement of Oscar Tobey’s store at the corner of Putnam Pike and Smith Avenue. The store burned to the ground in 1924 and it was replaced by a brick structure which still stands today. The new building also contained a jail cell in the basement that was still in use in the 1930s. The property owners were compensated for allowing the bridewells on their property.
The key to the Georgiaville Bridewell has survived and is currently in posesion of the Historical Society of Smithfield.
When someone was placed in one of the bridewells, a constable who’d been appointed, “Keeper of the Bridewell”, would be charged with watching and caring for the prisoner(s). This included providing food, and in wintertime, providing coal or wood for a small stove used to heat the cell area. It would also be the constable’s responsibility to transport the inmate(s) to Providence for court. The “keepers of the bridewell” were generally appointed on a yearly basis, and submitted invoices for payment to the town council for services rendered. For example, in April of 1899, Constable William T. Lawton, Keeper of the Georgiaville Bridewell, submitted a bill to the town council for $7.50 for “care of the bridewell”.
In 1913, the town council drafted a formal agreement for the town’s bridewells. Click here to see the agreement.
The town sergeant had the authority to temporarily appoint special constables in the event more manpower was needed such as at Fourth of July events, or other events deemed necessary.
Town records of the late 1800s show that some police constables carried specific titles such as “Special Constable to Prosecute Tramps”, or “Special Constable to Enforce Bird Laws”, each of which were paid fifty dollars per year. Apparently it was felt such officers were necessary as indicated in an Olneyville Times newspaper item from November 1, 1895, which stated in part that the Greenville Bridewell was “full of tramps on Thursday night.”
One tends to think of the prohibition of alcohol in America as being something which only occurred in the 1920s, but as a point of fact, there had been various prohibition movements in Rhode Island since the early 1800s, and some towns opted to be “dry”; and in the late 1890s Smithfield was one of them. Officially, there were no establishments in Smithfield that served alcohol, but there were some who chose to ignore the law. In 1898, public pressure spurred a large liquor raid on the Georgiaville side of town resulting in arrests and the confiscation of beer, wine, and spirits. To read more about the raid – click here.
By 1900 Smithfield’s population was only about 2,100 people. While portions of town were agricultural, the town also had five well established mill villages, Greenville, Georgiaville, Esmond, Stillwater, and Spragueville, all of which drew people to the town seeking work.
On January 3, 1908, a young woman named Mary Eddy was walking home from her job at a Greenville mill when she was murdered for her paycheck. Faced with solving the crime, Town Sergeant Jenckes Smith contacted Providence police asking for an experienced detective to assist with the investigation which was not unusual for the time as small towns like Smithfield didn’t routinely deal with such matters. Detective John T. Haran arrived to help, and an arrest was made a few days later. To learn more about this case – click here.
Town Sergeant Jenckes Smith passed away in 1910 after serving in his position for twenty-five years. He was succeeded by his son, Jenckes Smith, Jr.
At a town council meeting held September 26, 1914, Town Sergeant Jenckes Smith Jr. was instructed to “repair or replace” guideposts on the highways of Smithfield.
As the 20th century progressed, Smithfield’s population grew, and public demand for regular police patrols began to reach the ears of town officials.
In April of 1914, two Georgiaville businesses were burglarized and the town council authorized a $100 reward for the apprehension of those responsible. That same month a more serious crime occurred when five men attempted to rob payroll money from Robert Lister and William Mackie, who were both affiliated with the Lister Worcested Mills in Stillwater and Centerdale. Both men were shot, as was North Providence’s chief of police when he tried to apprehend the bandits as they passed through Centerdale. To read more about this incident – click here.
It’s likely these instances and others were what prompted citizens to petition the town council for police officers to be assigned to strictly patrol Georgiaville and Esmond. The violent labor strike that took place a year earlier at the Esmond Mill might also have been a factor. In any case, a signed petition was submitted by the citizens of Esmond to the town council, but after it was accepted, it was tabled. There the matter lay until June of 1915 when the town council voted to authorize two constables, one to specifically patrol Georgiaville, and the other, Esmond. Each officer was to be paid $100 per year for their services, however they only patrolled on alternate weekends (at night). Town Sergeant Jenckes Smith Jr., was authorized to patrol the Greenville area on weekends for $200 per year. It was also voted to install a telephone in the home of Jenckes Smith at town expense.
In 1915, the town council appointed Town Sergeant Jenckes Smith, Jr., Charles Lakey, and George E. Thurber to a committee of three tasked with drafting a formal set of rules and regulations for the police department.
In 1917, two more constables were assigned to patrol duty in Georgiaville and Esmond so that there would be an officer on patrol every weekend. Each officer was paid $5 per weekend. These weekend patrols were discontinued in April of 1921.
In 1918 Town Sergeant Jenckes Smith Jr., assumed the title of Chief of Police. The following year he petitioned the town council for authorization to buy eight uniform coats and hats. The request was granted, and he and seven patrolmen were fitted for uniforms. The coats were dark blue with brass buttons. It is believed that this was the first time Smithfield officers began wearing uniforms.
At a town council meeting held November 3, 1920, the Town Sergeant submitted twenty-one names to be considered for appointments as police constables.
At a town council meeting held July 9, 1921, the Town Sergeant was directed by the council to “remove all gambling devices from town.”
By 1922, the organizational chart of the Smithfield police consisted of Chief Smith, six regular officers, and twenty-six police constables.
By the 1920s automobiles had become more common on Smithfield’s roadways, and frequent reports of reckless and speeding drivers prompted the town council to grant permission for the police department to purchase a motorcycle in April of 1923. Officer Lester Tobin was appointed to be Smithfield’s first motorcycle officer tasked with writing tickets to traffic offenders. Town council records dated July 14, 1923, show that Officer Tobin was paid $42.48 for “motor cycle patrol and expenses.”
In July of 1923, a “silent policeman” traffic control device was put at the intersection of Waterman Ave. and Esmond St. This was basically a cement monument with arrows painted on the sides and a light on top. The idea was to direct traffic without having to post a police officer. Apparently the device was damaged at some point after its installation as evidenced by town records dated February 9, 1924, directing the police department to repair or replace the device.
It 1930 Smithfield obtained its first police car; a Ford Model A roadster convertible.
Smithfield’s first police car.
A 1930 Ford Model A.
In 1931/32, Chief Smith retired and was replaced by William Kelley. Chief Kelley also served as town sergeant, but both jobs were now two separate offices within the town’s government. Chief Kelley served until 1935 when Alfred N. Lacroix of Georgiaville was appointed chief.
Chief William Kelley circa 1935
In May of 1937, Smithfield’s town council adopted a lengthy police ordinance which formally established rules and regulations, pay scales, appointments, and general operations of the department. For the most part, the ordinance officially set to paper what had been common practice for many years.
The ordinance stated in part that the town council would appoint all members of the force, and that each member served at the pleasure of the council.
Hours for the chief and deputy chief were set at 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. six days a week, and each was always subject to call when off duty.
Constables had to give a $2.50 deposit to the town clerk for their badge to ensure its return at the end of their term.
Applicants to the department were required to be able to speak, read, and write the English language, and be a registered voter of the town.
All officers had to keep a log book of their on-duty activities, and were expected to be of good moral character in their private life by refraining from alcohol or frequenting liquor establishments while off duty.
The ordinance set the Chief’s pay at $1,450 a year; and the deputy chief’s pay at $200 per year; and patrolmen’s pay at $75 per year.
To read the complete ordinance – click here.
It was also in 1937 that the police department obtained a used Ford sedan which was later equipped with a one-way police radio, meaning it could receive but not transmit. The police department still did not have a police station, and it was said that the transmitter was installed at the chief’s house.
In 1939 Chief Lacroix was replaced by Chief Julis Boulia. The rank of deputy chief was eliminated, and the number of regular officers was reduced to four men. In 1941 Chief Lacroix was re-appointed and served until 1945 when he was replaced by Chief Joseph P. Colura Jr.
The Smithfield Town Hall was completed in 1939, and three rooms on the first floor as well as a small cell block in the basement were dedicated to the police department giving the town its first official police station.
By 1945 it was realized that Smithfield had grown to the point where a permanent full-time police department was warranted. Yet surprisingly, there were some who opposed the idea which then became a political issue that made its way into the newspapers.
In 1946 a compromise was reached when the town council approved three full-time positions; a chief and two sergeants. Patrolmen and “reserves”, as the constables came to be called, would still be part -time, as needed. Some saw this as progress, yet just two years later a new town council wanted to reverse the previous council’s ruling. Another compromise was reached when the new council appointed its own chief and sergeants.
The issue remained a contentious political topic. Some felt that the town council should continue to control the police department, and pointed out that other towns comparable to Smithfield didn’t have permanent police departments. Others maintained there was no stability under the present system, and that the police department shouldn’t be subject to political control. Finally, in 1950, the Rhode Island General Assembly passed an act which created a full-time permanent police department in Smithfield.
Smithfield Police – 1950
The police station was located in the Town Hall.
With the establishment of a permanent police force the rank of deputy chief was reinstated. Arthur B. Gould was appointed chief; Adolph E. Schenck was appointed deputy chief; and Benjamin Crossman was appointed sergeant. There were nine patrolmen and thirty-five reserve officers.
Full-time officers were required to work nine-hour days, six days a week. There was no overtime pay, no medical plan, no paid sick time, or a pension plan.
One officer who was appointed to the police department in 1950 was James H. McVey, who later retired as the department’s deputy chief in 1978. In 1990 he wrote a concise history of the police department which was the first time the department’s history had been set to paper. To read Deputy Chief McVey’s concise history – click here.
In 2014, retired Deputy Chief McVey and retired captain, Raymond Trombley, were interviewed for a story which appeared in the Smithfield Times, titled “Protecting Smithfield in a Simpler Time”. Both men recounted their early careers on the police department and the article illustrates how policework has changed since the 1950s and 60s. To read the article – click here.
By the 1960s the police department had grown to the point where it could provide steady 24/7 coverage of the town, even if at time there was only one officer on duty. The regular force was still supplemented by a cadre of reserve officers. Full-time officers carried the title of “patrolman”, while reserves carried the title of “officer”. The department continued to use reserve officers until the mid to late 1980s.
On March 29, 1965, the eleven full-time members of the police department signed their first ever collective bargaining contract with the town which would go into effect on July 1st, and expire June 30, 1966. The contract included across the board pay raises. A patrolman would now be making $5,200 per year; sergeants, $5,600; deputy chief, $5,900; and chief, $6,684.
The contract also stated that officers would now work a 40-hour, five-day work week, instead of the 44-hour five-and-a-half day work week, and officers would now receive compensatory time for extra work in lieu of overtime. The contract also addressed working conditions, grievance procedures, a two-week vacation, holiday pay, and clothing allowances.
Sgt. Norman G. Vezina
On December 10, 1968, 38-year-old Patrolman Norman Vezina lost his life in the line of duty when he drowned while attempting to rescue a 5-year- old child who’d fallen through ice on the Lower Spragueville Reservoir. The boy also drowned. He was promoted posthumously to the rank of sergeant at a special town council meeting held later that night.
Sergeant Vezina was a Marine Corps veteran, and had served as a reserve officer before being appointed a patrolman on May 1, 1968. Sergeant Prescott J. Williams, (Later Captain Williams), penned a poem about the tragedy which appeared in The Observer newspaper – click here.
A memorial to Sergeant Vezina is located in Deerfield Park in Greenville, and in October of 2017, the community room of the recently remodeled Smithfield police station was dedicated to his memory.
The following advertisement for the Smithfield Police Department appeared in The Observer on May 20, 1971.
In May of 1971 voters approved $150,000 for a new police station, and construction began the following May. The new building was constructed on a wooded lot donated by town residents Burton and Mary Mowry. The station has since been remodeled and updated several times since it was built, and remains at 215 Pleasant View Avenue.
New Smithfield police station nearing completion – Autumn 1972
The new police station was dedicated on January 14, 1973. To see a copy of the dedication program – click here.
To see photos of the station under construction – click here.
In 1973 Chief Gould retired after nearly thirty years as a police officer and state police officer John E. Moy took over as temporary interim chief until retired Providence police detective captain Vincent J. O’Connel was appointed chief in February of 1974.
It was also in 1973 that the department changed its uniform badge and shoulder patch. The new badges and patches displayed an image of the new police station, and replaced the badge and patch worn since the 1950s. The new badges were only issued to the permanent officers. Reserves continued to wear the old-style badges.
Worn prior to 1973
Current badges have the title of “Police Officer”
Smithfield R. I. Police
Worn 1960s – 1970s
Smithfield R.I. Police
Worn from 1973 to 2017.
This is an early issue. Later issues were fully embroidered.
In 1978 the department adopted grey uniforms similar to those worn by the Rhode Island State Police. The color of the patrol cars was also changed from light blue to grey.
Police Memorial Day ceremony – 1975
Light blue Smithfield police cars – August, 1977
Smithfield Police 1977 Traffic Wagon
In April of 1977 the department received a “traffic wagon” through federal funding as part of the government’s “Fatal Accident Reduction Enforcement”, (F.A.R.E), program. It’s primary purpose was to be used by officers tasked with enforcing traffic safety laws. Patrolman Prescott J. Williams was assigned to drive the wagon, while Patrolmen Thomas J. Hickey Jr., was assigned to motorcycle patrol duty for the upcoming summer months.
It was also in April of 1977 that a man removing a tree stump on his property on Putnam Pike discovered the skeleton of an unidentified girl. Detectives Brian Burke and Joseph Parenteau were assigned to the case. To read the story – click here.
Detective Burke retired as a lieutenant, and Detective Parenteau retired as deputy chief.
By 1979, the department had grown to twenty-nine full-time officers, supplemented by about 25 reserves.
Chief O’Connel retired in 1979, and was replaced by retired state police lieutenant Robert J. Voas, who served as chief for ten years. Chief Voas was followed by retired state police captain John R. Devine, who served for five years before retiring in 1990.
In the late 1990s the department installed computers in all of its patrol cars, and also digitized its record keeping system. The upgrades were supervised and implemented by the department’s IT Director, Detective Sergeant William Pilkington. Pilkington later retired as a lieutenant.
In 1997 the department hired its first full-time female officer, Lisa St. Angelo, who was also the first woman on the department to hold the ranks of sergeant and lieutenant.
In March of 2001, the police department achieved national accreditation through the Commission of Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.
In 2003 the department obtained an eighteen-foot aluminum motor boat for use on local ponds and lakes.
In January of 2005 a multi-agency mobile command post was jointly purchased with Homeland Security funds by the Smithfield, North Smithfield, Glocester, and Burrillville, police departments. It was custom designed to respond to any disaster situations and operate in a self-sufficient manner while maintaining interdepartmental communications. It was based at the Smithfield police station.
First patch worn by SPD K-9 officers.
In 2008 Chief William A. McGarry established the departments first K-9 unit consisting of Officer Mike Gilmore and a 19-month German Shepherd named Paxson.
Chief McGarry retired in November of 2009, and Deputy Chief Richard St. Sauveur Jr. became the acting chief until his appointment to chief in May of 2010. On July 31, 2024, Chief St. Sauveur retired after thirty-six years of service, and Deputy Chief Eric Dolan was promoted to fill the Chief’s position and as of this writing is presently serving in this position.
In April of 2009 the department obtained an off-road all terrain vehicle for patrolling areas of town that are inaccessible to vehicles without four-wheel-drive.
A lapel pin issued in 2010.
In 2010 the department celebrated its 60th anniversary.
In 2014 the department changed its patrol car graphics from a blue and grey color scheme to a silver and black color scheme.
To see other photos of Smithfield police cars – click here.
In 2017 the department changed its uniform patch to the present “three-hammer” design. The hammers are said to represent the three main villages of the town; Greenville, Georgiaville, and Esmond.
Since 2017, the department has also issued special unit patches and commemorative patches. To see other patches worn by the department – click here.
The passenger side door after being rescued and cleaned.
In March of 2020, Deputy Chief Robert VanNieuwenhuyze discovered a 1972 Ford Smithfield police cruiser rusting away in a wooded area of West Greenwich. Unfortunately the car was beyond restoration, but VanNieuwenhuyze was able to salvage a door and trunk lid before the car was hauled off for scrap. To read the story – click here.
In 2024 the department received a new mobile command post equipped with the latest technology.
New Mobile Command Post – 2024
To see more vintage photos of the Smithfield Police Department – click here.
As of this writing, (October, 2024), the Smithfield Police Department is comprised of 42 sworn officers and 19 civilians serving a population of over 22,000 citizens.
