Chief George J. Coffey
1968 – 1976

     February 28, 2009 – It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Chief George J. Coffey of Norwood Ave., Cranston who passed away with his family at his side.  Chief Coffey was a graduate of Cranston High School and appointed as a Cranston Police Constable on January 1, 1943.  The following year, officer Coffey was appointed as a permanent officer and his first assignment was walking a beat in the Edgewood area.  He was then moved to the Motorcycle Squad in 1949, then up the ladder to Detective, Sergeant,  Lieutenant, Captain, (Capt. on Aug. 28, 1961.), and appointed Chief of Police in 1968.  Upon his retirement in 1977 after 34 years of dedicated service to the citizens of Cranston, Chief Coffey joined the RI Capital Police in 1982 and retired on August 31, 2001.Also active in the community, Chief Coffey was a former Vice-President of the New England Chiefs of Police, a member of the Cranston Fraternal Order of Police, the Cranston Police Department’s Retiree Association, Cranston Rotary, Knights of Columbus, St. Paul’s Council No.2385 and was a communicant at St. Paul’s Church since Boyhood. Born in Providence to the late James J. and Sarah (Slavin) Coffey, he is survived by his loving wife  Sophie (Mojkowski) of 58 years and his children Dennis, Judy, Brian, Kevin, and Deborah. 

     Rest in peace Chief.  You will never be forgotten.

Det. William T. White, Jr.

     July 2, 2009 – It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Detective William T. White, Jr., 78, who passed away in Miriam Hospital.   He was born in Providence on June 6, 1931, and was hired by the police department on March 3, 1954.  After serving for 30 years, he retired on Sept. 3, 1982, and went to work for the R. I. Family Court system as Supervisor of Clerks. He was a 1974 graduate of Salve Regina University in Newport.  Rest in peace our brother. 

Officer Rick Norberg

     August 22, 2009 – It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Officer Richard (Rick) W. Norberg.  He was born in Providence, Oct. 8, 1946, the son of E. Theodore and Shirley (Doane) Norberg.  He was a 1980 graduate of Salve Regina University in Newport, with a BA in Criminal Justice.  After his retirement in 1987 he worked for Pepsi Cola for fifteen years before passing. He is survived by his wife Cynthia, and his three sons, Richard, Ryan, and Mathew.  Rest in Peace our brother.     

     September 18, 2009 – We regret to announce the passing of Sergeant John W. O’Brien, 83, of Warwick.  John was a WWII navy veteran, and was appointed to the department on September 1, 1950, and was promoted to sergeant on August 28, 1961.  He is survived by his four children, John, Daniel, Diane, and Patricia, as well as ten grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Rest in peace our brother.   

Chief Thomas M. Harrington

     November 7, 2009

     Chief of Police Thomas M. Harrington passed away on November 7, 2009 at the age of 74.  As a sergeant he served as the department’s first Prosecution Division supervisor, and as a lieutenant he volunteered in Cranston public schools speaking with students on the role of the police in the criminal justice system.  As a captain he spearheaded a program to institute a new computer report-dictation system that allowed officers to call in reports from the road.  This system was the first of its kind in Rhode Island.  Chief Harrington served the citizens of Cranston for 30 years before retiring in 1986.  He then went on to serve as administrator of the Department of Motor Vehicles for 15 years before retiring again in 2000. 

     Rest in peace.