Middletown Chief Named To Criminal Justice Hall Of Fame

MIDDLETOWN, RI — Middletown's police chief, Anthony Pesare, is among an elite group. He is being inducted to Rhode Island's Criminal Justice Hall of Fame. Attorney General Peter Kilmartin's office has announced the 2017 induction ceremony will be held on Tuesday, June 13. The Rhode Island Criminal Justice Hall of Fame honors outstanding professionals who have worked to improve and uphold the principles of the criminal justice system in Rhode Island, Kilmartin said.

Pesare is also a retired major in the Rhode Island State Police. He took over command of the Middletown Police Department on August 30, 2004. Prior to joining the Middletown Police Department he served as Dean of the School of Justice Studies at Roger Williams University.

"During his tenure as Chief of Police the department has adopted a philosophy of proactive law enforcement and community involvement, as well as constructing a new 8.5 million dollar police station in 2009. The department has received National (CALEA) and State (RIPAC) Accreditation. Members of the department have received numerous awards from the Office of Highway Safety, MADD and AAA for their efforts to make Middletown a safer community," according to the press release.

"In 2015 the department received a first place award for Community Policing from the New England Association of Chiefs of Police competing against police departments who serve communities of 15,000 – 50,000. Chief Pesare was a member of the Rhode Island State Police and culminated a law enforcement career spanning twenty-four years. During his career with the State Police, Chief Pesare served initially as a uniform trooper assigned to the Patrol Division and was transferred to the Intelligence Unit where he primarily investigated organized crime activities," the release continued.

"Chief Pesare rose through the ranks of the agency serving as the Detective Sergeant, as a Lieutenant in the capacity of the Assistant Detective Commander and as a Captain in the capacity of Detective Division Commander. As Detective Commander he established the multi-agency State Police Violent Fugitive Task Force. He obtained his final rank of Major where he served as second in command of the department and his responsibilities included supervision of the Uniform and Detective divisions and all specialized units. During his career, he was the recipient of 20 division commendations, one special division commendation and six commendations from outside agencies.

"He has been a frequent presenter on topics related to criminal procedure and organized crime, and has lectured at the Rhode Island State Police Training Academy, the Rhode Island Bar Association and the Rhode Island Chapter of Certified Fraud Examiners. He is an adjunct professor at Salve Regina University.
In 2007 Chief Pesare received the Gerhard Mueller Innovator’s Award from the Northeastern Association of Criminal Justice Sciences. In 2012 the Chief received the Robert M. Goodrich Distinguished Public Service Award from the RI Public Expenditure Council.

"Chief Pesare is a past President of the RI Police Chiefs’ Association, Chair of the RI Police Officers Standards and Training Commission and is a member of the New England State Police Information Network Executive Board.

"He received his B.S. degree in Administration of Justice from Roger Williams University, his Master of Public Administration from the University of Rhode Island, and his Juris Doctor from the New England School of Law, Boston, Massachusetts.

The ceremony will be held on Tuesday, June 13 at 6 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick.

The other members of the 2017 class are:

• Captain Charles “Ted” Dolan, Pawtucket Police Department (Ret.)

Administrator of the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles (Ret.)

• U.S. Marshal Jamie Hainsworth, U.S. Marshal for the District of Rhode Island

Chief, Glocester Police Department (Ret.)

• Colonel Kenneth Mancuso, Cranston Police Department (Ret.)

• The Honorable William Powers, Associate Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court (Ret.) (Deceased)

Rhode Island Attorney General (1949-1959)

• The Honorable Joseph Walsh, Mayor, City of Warwick

Rhode Island House of Representatives

Rhode Island Senate

Tickets are still available. Tickets cost $30 each and can be purchased by emailing ricjhof@gmail.com or calling 274-4400 x 2335.