E.P. Deputy Police Chief Retiring

The East Providence Police Department will be searching for a new deputy chief.

Maj. Charles Swenson has announced his retirement after 32 years on the force. He has been second in command to Police Chief Joseph Tavares since the fall of 2009, when Tavares was named chief.

Swenson moved his way up through the ranks, according to a story in the East Providence Post.

“Charlie is great police officer, a man of integrity, a great family man,” the chief said in the story. “He has all of those qualities you would want in a deputy chief, a chief or an officer. He has all of those things both on an off the job you would want in a person.”

Swenson informed Tavares of his decision to retire on Monday, Dec. 31.

“Charlie’s a great guy. We’ve known each other since (East Providence) high school. We graduated in the same Class of 1975,” Tavares said. “If you don’t like Charlie, the problem is with you not him. I’m just sorry to see him leave.”

Also an East Providence native, Swenson has been the lead detective on many major cases in the past.

“I’m disappointed he has decided to retire because he has truly been a trusted and loyal deputy chief,” said Chief Tavares. “He has done 32 years of honorable police work. He’s good at so many things. He will always be known for his skills as an investigative detective.”

A replacement for Swenson will not come until Tavares and City Manager Peter Graczykowski get together.

The public safety post is the second one in about a week that has seen a retirement. Former fire chief Joseph Klucznik retired at the end of the year. Capt. Oscar Elmasian, the fire marshal, has been named acting fire chief for at least six months.