Cranston Police Department Retirees Association
The organization for retired members of the Cranston, RI Police Department
Chief James E. Cuff
Chief of Police James Edward Cuff was appointed chief of police on January 4, 1911. He served until January 20, 1912, and was later re-appointed chief in 1915. He then served for fourteen more years until retiring in 1929. He is the only Cranston chief of police to serve twice.
He passed away on February 19, 1931, and is buried in St. Ann’s Cemetery.
Rest in peace.
Ptl. John A. Yeaw
in 1898
Patrolman John Asa Yeaw was appointed a police constable in 1888. When Cranston incorporated as a city in June of 1910 he was one of the first ten full-time patrolmen appointed to the force. He passed away at the age of 73 on September 5, 1931, and is buried in the Pocasset Cemetery.
Rest in peace.
Sergeant William Cooney
Sergeant William Cooney, passed away on December 19, 1939. He joined the police department in 1914, and was promoted to sergeant in 1927. He was well known for his wit and sense of humor. In the spring of 1925, a local newspaper held “The Most Popular Cop Contest”, and Cooney won.
He was survived by his sister, and a son. He’s buried in St. Ann’s Cemetery.
Rest in peace.
Chief James G. Miller
Chief of Police James G. Miller passed away on August 15, 1941. He was born in Millville, Massachusetts, on August 8, 1876. He was appointed a Cranston police constable in 1896, and was one of the first ten full-time patrolmen when the city established a permanent police department in 1910.
Chief Miller was appointed Chief of Police in January of 1929, and is credited with establishing the first city police training school for perspective officers, as well as in-service-training for veteran officers.
Rest in peace.
Badge worn by Chief James Miller
Chief Jim Miller 1938
Capt. Henry C. Debow
Captain Henry Clay Debow passed away on February 13, 1943. He was born in New Brunswick on September 11, 1879. He was appointed a police constable in 1903, and when the city established its first full-time police department in 1910, Debow was one of the original ten patrolmen. By 1912 he was promoted to inspector, and later to lieutenant in 1925 – the first to hold either of those two positions. He later became the department’s first Captain in 1929, serving as the department’s second-in-command and took over the night shift. He was an avid outdoorsman and hunter. It was said he could have become chief of police, but turned it down so he could remain on nights, so he could continue to hunt and fish during the day. He retired on January 1, 1942.
He was survived by his wife and a sister.
