Cranston Police Department Retirees Association
The organization for retired members of the Cranston, RI Police Department
Capt. John Ryan
Detective Captain John Ryan was born in Providence on February 7, 1903 and was appointed to the CPD on May 30, 1926. He was promoted to Inspector in September of 1944, and to captain in 1954 and commanded the detective division. He retired from the Cranston PD in August of 1959 to take a position as the Chief of Police in East Greenwich. He served as chief until his passing. He passed away on December 13, 1969, and is buried in St. Ann’s Cemetery.
Inspector Ryan – April, 1952
Patrolman John F. Callery, Jr., retired from the CPD in June of 1947, and passed away on September 25, 1971 at the age of 74. He’s buried in St. Ann’s Cemetery.
Rest in peace.
Cranston City Times
July 10, 1924
Ptl. Michael F. Buzzard
Patrolman Michael F. Buzzard was born in West Virginia in 1897, and served overseas in the United Army during World War I. He came to Cranston and obtained a job at the Auburn Express Company before being appointed a special patrolman to the police department in May of 1924. He was appointed a permanent patrolman in January of 1925. In December of 1926 he was recognized for single-handedly pursuing three armed bandits during a high-speed car chase during which numerous gunshots between the officer and bandits were exchanged. He passed away in Massachusetts on November 30, 1972, at the age of 75.
Rest in peace.
Chief J. Howard Gibbs
Chief of Police James Howard Gibbs joined the CPD in 1943, but left to serve in the U. S. Army a year later. He served in the European Theatre during WWII, and earned the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. In 1946 he returned the the police department, and later was assigned to the Detective Division. He graduate from the F. B. I. National Academy in 1951 and became the department’s training officer. On August 28, 1961, he was promoted to captain and held that rank until 1968 when he was promoted to Chief.
He passed away in may of 1973 at the age of 52, and is buried in St. Ann’s Cemetery.
Rest in peace.
Lt. Joseph E. Austin
Lieutenant Joseph E. Austin passed away on March 6, 1974 at the age of 64. Lt. Austin was well known throughout the state for his forensic skills and worked many years in the department’s Bureau of Criminal Identification Division. He’s buried in St. Ann’s Cemetery.
Rest in peace.
Police Specialist Joe Austin – 1952