Elks Present Carey With Citizen Of The Year Award

The Woonsocket Elks Lodge #850 presented Woonsocket Police Chief Thomas Carey with the 2011 Citizen of the Year award at a dinner ceremony Saturday night. The annual award honors a citizen that has improved life for residents through dedicated efforts in the community.

Though many past recipients of the award had an extensive history of volunteerism, few would argue that Carey's work within the Woonsocket Police Department alone is worthy of recognition.

Carey came to Woonsocket in September of 2008 after serving 25 years on the police department in St. Petersburg, Florida. In Florida, he held the rank of major, a tier below the chief, and was in charge of a unit specializing in property crimes. 

Since Carey has taken the helm, the department, once rife with accusations of scandal and corruption, has changed significantly.

"I see your officers out in the street and they all look happy to be there," Councilman Christopher Beauchamp told Carey Monday night. "You've made a real change in this city."

A firm believer in building trust with the community he serves, Carey has collaborated with the city's nonprofit and development organizations to initiate several , including efforts to . He and his wife Nancy, Massachusetts natives, have had a clear presence in Woonsocket's traditions and institutions in recent years, serving on the for the Martin Luther King Day celebration and helping to organize the annual for the Special Olympics. 

With the help of the Woonsocket Prevention Coalition, he installed an anonymous tip line at the department (769-4444,) through which officers regularly receive leads resulting in narcotics and other criminal arrests.

In campaigns to target drug and gun trafficking, Carey has worked with the US Attorney General's Office, and federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF,) and substantial amounts of narcotics, resulting in more than 16 arrests over the past two years.

Carey also serves as an executive board member of a committee in the Rhode Island Association of Chiefs of Police that is for local police departments. 

One of the few incidents to reportedly occur under Carey's watch, the 2009 beating of a 16 year-old boy in police custody, is currently under investigation by the department. Former Patrolman John Douglas was convicted as a result of the incident, and according to The Call, three additional officers may be fired. The chief assures residents that the force follows a disciplinary process and that all complaints regarding the conduct of officers will be fully investigated.

"I really think there are times when you forget how fortunate you are," Rep. Lisa Baldelli-Hunt said of Carey's achievements in the city. "How is it that someone who has been here for so short a time has received so many accolades and so many awards?"

"It's not just about me, it's about the department," Carey said of the award Monday night, displaying his usual quiet modesty.

The award was presented at the Elks Lodge on Social Street in a ceremony where the group also honored their Elk of the Year. Past recipients include Leo S. Shiel, a former Exaulted Ruler of the lodge, who is heavily involved in the food pantry at St. Charles Borromeo Church and Sandra Soares, a sales associate for Residential Properties, LTD who did extensive volunteer work  with Adopt-A-Family, Inc.