Warwick PD Dive Training

The Warwick Police Department Underwater Search and Recovery Team was formed in the summer of 1988. The mission of the Warwick Police Department dive team is to conduct underwater crime scene investigations and evidence recovery. The team is trained in specialized areas of diving including vehicle and aircraft recovery, ice diving, and hull search operations. The dive team trains every month-even under the ice. The Officers pictured are Det. Shaun Turcotte and Off Bob Hart.

Diligent Police Officer Saves Family from Fire

***PRESS RELEASE***
For Immediate Release

Warwick Police Officer on Patrol observes residence on fire. Evacuates six.
September 10, 2015

On Thursday, September 10, 2015 at 0031 hours, Officer David Waddington, an 11 year veteran of the Warwick Police Department, was on patrol in the area of 975 Narragansett Parkway when he observed the residence and an attached garage at that location engulfed in a substantial amount of flames.

Officer Waddington summoned assistance from the fire department and then was able to safely evacuate the residents, which resided there. Four adults, two juveniles, and two dogs were safely rescued by Officer Waddington. One cat is currently missing.

Warwick Fire arrived and extinguished the blaze. The male resident was treated by Warwick Fire for smoke inhalation. Other residents were not injured. One Firefighter was transported to Kent Hospital with minor injuries. The American Red Cross assisted the family with shelter.

POC: Captain Andrew P. Tainsh
Warwick Police Department
401-468-4365

25th Citizens Police Academy Kicks Off!

Colonel McCartney and Mayor Avedisian kick off the start of Warwick PD's 25th Citizens Police Academy Wednesday night.  30 citizens will participate under the tutelage of Off Steve Nelson.  Good luck and enjoy.

First Arrest Under New State Child Safe Zone Law

The Warwick Police Department announces the arrest of a registered sex offender for violation of a new RI law aimed at protecting children. It is believed that this arrest is one of the first of its kind in the State of RI since the legislation was just recently passed according to Colonel Stephen M. McCartney of the Warwick Police Department.

McCartney states that on September 2, 2015, the Warwick Police Department along with members of the US Marshall's SOLEMN (Sex Offender Law Enforcement Multidisciplinary Network) task force arrested Heath Gagne, 40 years of age, from Vallette St. in Cranston charging him with violation of Prohibition from Employment- Child Safe Zones which is a felony. The arrest came as a result of shared information and a cooperative investigation with the West Warwick Police Department.

Gagne was arrested by the West Warwick Police Department on August 22, 2015, for failure to notify them of a change of address which is required of all registered sex offenders. During the course of that arrest, Detective Matt Beltrami of the West Warwick Police Department learned that Gagne currently worked for a subcontractor of a local amusement company who operates carnivals throughout the area. Upon learning this, Detective Beltrami conferred with Tracy Lapointe-Webber of Kent County Probation and they determined that Gagne's employment constituted a violation of the new statute. Detective Beltrami advised Gagne of the new law which prohibited him as a registered sex offender from working at the carnivals.

Follow up investigation revealed that Gagne had in fact returned to work at a carnival in Warwick on both August 22nd and 23rd after being advised by the detective that it was in fact unlawful to do so. Warrants were drawn for the arrest of Gagne by Warwick Police Officer Stephen Lombardi who is a member of the SOLEMN task force and along with the US Marshall's and Cranston Police Department he was taken into custody without incident.

"The arrest of Gagne demonstrates how the collaborative efforts of the US Marshall's Sex Offender task force along with local law enforcement and probation continues to help keep our children safe", stated Colonel McCartney.

CONTACT: Lieutenant Michael Gilbert, OIC Community Services Division, 401-468-4344.