Patrolman Clause Abramson was born in Yestergotland, Sweden, in 1876 and came to America when he was 19 and settled in Cranston where he had friends.  He was appointed a police constable in 1907, and when Cranston incorporated as a city in 1910 he was one of the original ten full-time patrolmen appointed to the newly established permanent force.  He spent most of his career patrolling the Edgewood neighborhood and was very beloved by the citizens there.  He retired from the CPD in 1956 after 49 years of service, and continued to serve in the capacity of a special officer, helping school cross the busy intersection of Broad and Norwood in Edgewood for several years, thus giving him the distinction of being Cranston’s longest serving police officer.  Ptl. Abramson passed away on November 27, 1965, at the age of 89. 

     Rest in peace. 

Capt. John Ryan

     Detective Captain John Ryan was born in Providence on February 7, 1903 and was appointed to the CPD on May 30, 1926.  He was promoted to Inspector in  September of 1944, and to captain in 1954 and commanded the detective division.  He retired from the Cranston PD in August of 1959 to take a position as the Chief of Police in East Greenwich.  He served as chief until his passing.   He passed away on December 13, 1969, and is buried in St. Ann’s Cemetery.  

Inspector Ryan – April, 1952

Ptl. Michael F. Buzzard

     Patrolman Michael F. Buzzard was born in West Virginia in 1897, and served overseas in the United Army during World War I.  He came to Cranston and obtained a job at the Auburn Express Company before being appointed a special patrolman to the police department in May of 1924.   He was appointed a permanent patrolman in January of 1925.   In December of 1926 he was recognized for single-handedly pursuing three armed bandits during a high-speed car chase during which numerous gunshots between the officer and bandits were exchanged.  He passed away in Massachusetts on November 30, 1972, at the age of 75. 

     Rest in peace. 

Chief J. Howard Gibbs

     Chief of Police James Howard Gibbs joined the CPD in 1943, but left to serve in the U. S. Army a year later. He served in the European Theatre during WWII, and earned the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.  In 1946 he returned the the police department, and later was assigned to the Detective Division.  He graduate from the F. B. I. National Academy in 1951 and became  the department’s training officer.  On August 28, 1961, he was promoted to captain and held that rank until 1968 when he was promoted to Chief. 

     He passed away in may of 1973 at the age of 52, and is buried in St. Ann’s Cemetery. 

     Rest in peace.