Detective Frank R. Zito
Badge 157

     May 15, 2017 –  It is with profound sadness that we announce the death of Detective Frank R. Zito, 70, of Port St. Lucie, Florida.  Frank served 29 years with the department before retiring in in 1996, many of those years in the Bureau of Criminal Identification Unit within the Detective Division.  He is survived by his wife Phyllis, and his two sons, John and Ronald.  He’s buried in St. Ann’s Cemetery in Cranston. 

     Rest in peace our brother. 

Ptl. Russell B. Gross

     June 20, 2017 – Patrolman Russell B. Gross, Sr., was born in 1922, and lived most of his life in Cranston.  He was the devoted husband of Barbara H. (Farrow) Gross for 69 years.  He was a World War II veteran of the Army Air Corps, and a Communicant of St. David’s on the Hill Episcopal Church in Cranston.  Russell was appointed to the police department on April 30, 1951.  He passed away on June 20, 2017, and is buried in Swan Point Cemetery in Providence, R. I.     

     Rest in peace our brother.

Off. Cheryl Zola, #275

     Retired CPD officer Cheryl J. Zola, (Badge 275), passed away on February 4, 2018, at the age of 61.  Cheryl was the department’s second female officer.  During her career she served with the Patrol Division, and was one of the original four members of the Cranston Community Police unit.  She is survived by her parents, two sons, four grandchildren, and four siblings. 

     Rest in peace our sister.    

Leonard “Lenny” D’Errico
Badge 155

     December 24, 2018 – Retired officer Leonard “Lenny” D’Errico, 72, passed away at Kent County Hospital surrounded by his loving family.  Born in Providence, he was the son of Edward J. and Jennie (Calitri) D’Errico.  He was the husband of the late Dianne L. (Lombardo) D’Errico.  After retiring from the police department, Lenny worked for the Cranston Public School’s Athletic Department.  He is survived by his daughter Dawn Piechocki and her husband John, of Warwick, and his son Derik D’Errico and his wife Jill of Harrisville.  

     Rest in Peace our brother.     

Det. William J. Palmer
Badge 324

     Detective William J. Palmer passed away on February 25, 2019. He was the beloved husband of Mary Ann (DeBalsi) Palmer, and father to three children, Bill, Jr., and twins Jenna and Joseph.  Bill served the city of Cranston for 28 years, working in the patrol division and later as a detective in the department’s C.S.I. Division for 17 years.  Bill was also an instructor at the New England Institute of Technology where he taught forensics in the criminal justice program.   

     Rest in peace our brother.