A night of many honors for Cranston police
As six new police officers, including two transfers from other departments were welcomed into the Cranston police force Thursday night, eight current members of the department were given promotions, and an additional nine were presented awards for the work they’ve done in the past year.
The department’s Medal of Valor was given to Sergeant Brian D’Amico and Officers Matthew Schaffran and Andrew Leonard for an extreme situation that happened on December 4 on Chapel Street. The officers responded to a domestic disturbance between Anthony Silva and his mother, Brenda. Silva acted violently and threatened officers Schaffran and Leonard when they tried to de-escalate the situation, and it eventually came to a violent confrontation and fight.
Silva pulled out a knife and stabbed Schaffran multiple times in the back, and instead of retaliating with deadly force officer Leonard was able to take Silva down while D’Amico restrained the mother after she had tried getting involved.
“It cannot be stated enough that the officers involved used an extreme amount of restraint given the situation, and for their actions involving deadly force they are hereby awarded the Sgt. Walter Buzby Award of Valor,” said Major Robert Quirk, one of the department’s command staff members who were on hand to award the officers.
In addition to that medal, six other officers were given Life Saving Awards by the department. Officers Seth Aldrich and Daniel Langlais were awarded for saving a suicidal man who was cutting his throat with a knife in a car just over the Providence border. The officers had to break open the car window to get the man and then brought him to the hospital before he bled out from the self-inflicted wounds.
Sergeant Dennis Trinh, K9 Officer Lee Sohn and officers Anthony Laquale and Brian Corvese were also given the Life Saving Award for saving the victim of a stabbing in Cranston, which Major Todd Patalano said could have been a “tragedy” without the actions of those officers.
Before these special awards were given out, Mayor Allan Fung, along with Chief Michael Winquist and Majors Patalano and Quirk, read the oath of the department to the six new members of the department who were inducted Thursday night.
Those new Cranston police officers are Zachary Burns, who comes from the North Providence Police Department, James Jaworski, who comes from the West Warwick Police Department, and Dana Andrade, Shane Lynch, Joshua Pento and Nathan Robitaille, all of whom are recent graduates of Rhode Island’s municipal police academy.
“To our new officers, I welcome you to our great city of Cranston, backed by the open arms of more than 80,000 residents who live here,” said Mayor Fung. “We’re so excited to have a full complement; each of you bring talents and skills that will enhance our department in so many ways. We expect great things from you.”
Fung also spoke more broadly about the type of department that the Cranston Police have created in the city.
“We all recognize that this is a special family, our Cranston Police Department,” he said, adding that the ceremony was not only meant to welcome in new officers but to also recognize the accomplishments of those already serving on the force.
Fung also talked about what the department has done in recent years involving community policing, such as new substations. He also spoke about the continued development in Cranston’s schools.
“One instance I’m so proud of is school safety,” he said. “It was a comprehensive collaboration from day one between our police and schools that has been ongoing for years. We have had a huge head start and can share our knowledge with other departments now. Whether it’s the ALICE trainings, our department has led the way on this.”
“Today, the department is considered a model of policing throughout the state,” he added. “Our men and women of blue have been changing how people view police officers in a better, profound and compassionate way.”
The two officers promoted to the rank of Captain were Russell Henry Jr. and Sean Parker. The two officers promoted to the rank of Lieutenant were Justin Dutra and Donald Robertson. And four officers were promoted to the rank of Sergeant, including Ryan Shore, Anthony Sassone-McHugh, Jon Pariseault and Dennis Trinh. Captain Vincent McAteer said that Trinh is the first Asian-American officer to be promoted within the Cranston Police Department.
“These are their solemn vows to you,” Captain McAteer said about the oaths the new/promoted officers took Thursday night. “Their promise is that they will lead with dignity and courage, they will protect with diligence and dedication, and enforce our laws with compassion.”
