Cranston Police Department Retirees Association
The organization for retired members of the Cranston, RI Police Department
Robert A. Callison, Badge 358
Detective Robert Allen Callison, Jr., 45, of Fort Myers, Florida, passed away Tuesday, May 26, 2015. He was born May 29, 1969 to Robert Allen Callison, Sr., and Charlotte Lagasse Callison. Bob joined the Cranston police department in 1996, and was later promoted to the rank of Detective. Prior to joining the police department, Detective Callison had served in the United States Marine Corps.
Rest in peace our brother.
Officer Wayne S. Russell, Jr. – Cranston Police
Officer Wayne S. Russell, Jr.
Officer Wayne S. Russell, Jr., (Badge 495), passed away unexpectedly on May 26, 2023, at the age of 43. During his twelve year career with the Cranston Police he earned several commendations for great policework. He’s buried at Swan Point Cemetery in Providence.
Rest in peace our brother.
Det. John F. Montanaro Badge 164
Retired Cranston Police Detective John F. Montanaro passed away on January 5, 2023 at the age of 76. He served the good citizens of Cranston for 28 years before his retirement. During his long career, John worked in the patrol division, and later served as a plain clothes officer in the department’s anti-crime unit. He also served as a detective in the elite Combined Operations & Response Team, (CORT Unit), which worked closely with the department’s Narcotics & Vice Unit.
John was the beloved husband of 35 years to Paula (Ricci) Montanaro. Born in Providence, he was the son of the late Joseph and Tina (Rotondo) Montanaro.
Besides his wife John is survived by his loving children: Kristina Regine of Warwick, and John F. Montanaro Jr. and his wife Deborah of North Kingstown; his dear sister: Sandra Riddle, and her husband Donald of Cranston. He was also the cherished grandfather of 5 , great-grandfather of 3, and brother-in-law of Michele Ricci and her late husband Carl Izzo of Cranston.
Burial took place in St. Ann’s Cemetery.
Rest in peace our brother.
Ptl. John Bell
Badge 185
John Bell, (on left), Tom Mooney, (on right) at the department’s armory – circa 1995
Retired officer John Bell passed away on November 6, 2022. John was appointed to the Cranston Police Department on July 17, 1972. During his career he severed in the patrol division and motorcycle unit. He was also one of the department armorers, a firearms instructor, and range officer.
In the 1990s he transferred to the traffic division after which he completed six weeks of intensive training to become one of the department’s first “accident reconstructionists”. John used his knowledge and skill to investigate fatal injury and serious injury accidents to mathematically and forensically “reconstruct” what happened. Today’s CPD traffic officers are routinely sent to Accident Reconstruction School, but such was not the case in the 1990s.
John Retired on February 27, 1998, after serving the citizens of Cranston for more than 25 years.
Rest in peace our brother.
Patrolman Thomas Murphy
Photo Unavailable.
Patrolman Murphy began his career as a “Special Patrolman” sometime around 1920. On October 1, 1924, an article appeared in the now defunct “Cranston News”, which stated he had been appointed to the “regular force” by Chief James E. Cuff.
“Murphy is an excellent man to add to the force.” the newspaper said. “Soon after he had been appointed a special policeman”, the article went on, “Murphy was standing on Cranston Street one day when he noted that a woman in boarding a trolley car had dropped her pocketbook. He tried to attract her attention to tell of her loss, but the trolley started toward Providence, leaving him standing in the middle of the road with a pocketbook in his hand. Not to be outdone, however, he haled an auto going in the opposite direction, had it turn around, speed after the trolley, blew his whistle, stopped the car, and very politely handed the woman her pocketbook before se realized she had lost it”
Nothing further is known of Patrolman Murphy at this time.
Officer Roland Manchester
Retired Officer Roland R. Manchester, 77, passed away on June 15, 2022, surrounded by his loving family at HopeHealth Hospice, Providence. He was the beloved husband of Constance (Valletta) Manchester for 36 years. Born in Providence, he was the son of the late Sanford Manchester Sr., and the late Gladys (Luther) Manchester. Roland was a Cranston Police Officer for over 18 years retiring as a Traffic Investigator. Upon his retirement from the CPD, he became an Investigator for the Public Defender’s Office of the State of RI. Roland enjoyed traveling, going on road trips, and visiting Kevin wherever he was stationed. Roland loved his dogs, especially Bandit, and grand dogs. He had a passion for playing the daily number and cashing in his scratch tickets at Phred’s Drugs on Oaklawn Avenue. He was a US Army veteran and a dedicated member within the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Besides his wife Constance, he is survived by his loving children, Roman Manchester of PA, Kimberly Massaroco (John) of East Providence, his stepchildren, Judith Boyle (Thomas) of Cranston, George Bowen III of East Greenwich. He was the cherished grandfather “Poppie” of Kevin Grant Jr. (Katie), Lauren Savage (Robert Sr.), Ava Boyle, George Bowen IV, and Kylie Bowen. Roland was also the adored great grandfather of Finnegan and Waylon James Grant, and Robert “RJ” Savage Jr. He was the brother of the late Sanford Manchester Jr.
Rest in peace our brother.
Retired Sergeant Ronald Michael Guilmette, “Ron”, passed away on January 29, 2022, at his home in Sarasota, Florida, as his wife of 10 years, Cham Ngoc Guilmette, held his hand.
Ron is survived by his children, Kenneth Guilmette, Sr., Linda Guilmette Molloy, David Guilmette, Robert Guilmette, Anthony Guilmette, Michael Guilmette, and Nicholas Guilmette; his stepchildren, Daniel Valentino, Brenda Long, Julie Frizell, and Cathy Fetgatter; 19 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren; his siblings, William Guilmette, Elaine Hoell, Kenneth Guilmette, Bernadette Altieri, Maureen Carvolo, and Joseph Guilmette; and his former wives, Ginny Cunningham and Sheila Guilmette. Ron was preceded in death by his son, Ronald Guilmette, Jr.; his grandson, Ronald Guilmette, III; and his son-in-law, Christopher Fetgatter.
Born on December 8, 1941, in Providence, Rhode Island, Ron was the son of the late William Henry Guilmette and the late Antonette Lolio Guilmette. Ron joined the Marine Corps at the early age of seventeen and served two tours in Vietnam (1963 and 1965) with the highly decorated 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment of the 1st Marine Division. Their nickname was “the Magnificent Bastards” and their motto was “Second to None.” Ron served in Hotel (H Company) and retired with the rank of 1st Sergeant. After the Marine Corps, Ron joined the Army and served for another 10 years. Ron received numerous awards and medals for his distinguished military service.
Following his military career, Ron embarked on a second profession in law enforcement when he joined the Cranston, Rhode Island, Police Department on July 1, 1969. Over the course of his diverse police career, Ron was a member of several specialized units, including the motorcycle and underwater recovery team. He was the recipient of several departmental commendations for outstanding performance and letters of appreciation from the community. Ron served on the department for 24 years and retired as a Sergeant.
After retiring from law enforcement, Ron continued learning and working and even became a flight instructor. Ron was also a member of the Blue Knights Motorcycle Club and was appointed as the chapter’s Safety Officer. After fully retiring, Ron moved to Sarasota, met and married the love-of-his-life, Cham, who joined him in Sarasota where they established and enjoyed their “dream home.”
Following a lifetime of public service, what Ron most enjoyed was playing golf, having a cigar, riding his motorcycle, playing the violin, and above anything else, spending time with “my Cham.”
Ron was adored by his family and cherished by his friends, who lovingly referred to him as “Gunny.”
Rest in peace our brother.
Sgt. Ron Guilmette