Cranston Police Department Retirees Association
The organization for retired members of the Cranston, RI Police Department
Patrolman Willis King Yeaw, Jr., passed away on October 27, 1962 at the age of 68. He was a U. S. Navy veteran of World War I. He was a Cranston police officer as early as 1924. He’s buried in Highland Memorial Park in Johnston, R. I.
Rest in peace.
Cranston News
April 1, 1932
Captain Patrick J. McCarron joined the Cranston Police Department on May 16, 1924. He was promoted to sergeant in 1941, to lieutenant in 1946, and to captain in 1950. He passed away at the age of 63 on December 4, 1962, and is buried in St. Ann’s Cemetery.
Rest in peace.
Patrolman Clause Abramson was born in Yestergotland, Sweden, in 1876 and came to America when he was 19 and settled in Cranston where he had friends. He was appointed a police constable in 1907, and when Cranston incorporated as a city in 1910 he was one of the original ten full-time patrolmen appointed to the newly established permanent force. He spent most of his career patrolling the Edgewood neighborhood and was very beloved by the citizens there. He retired from the CPD in 1956 after 49 years of service, and continued to serve in the capacity of a special officer, helping school cross the busy intersection of Broad and Norwood in Edgewood for several years, thus giving him the distinction of being Cranston’s longest serving police officer. Ptl. Abramson passed away on November 27, 1965, at the age of 89.
Rest in peace.
Chief Anthony J. Moretti
Chief Anthony J. Moretti passed away suddenly on January 30, 1968 while on duty in his office. Born in Cranston, he was the son of the late Orazio and Filomena (Grossi) Moretti. Mr. Moretti was appointed to the Cranston Police Department on August 18, 1938. He was promoted to sergeant on December 21, 1945. In 1951, he was promoted to Detective Sergeant when Cranston’s first detective division was established. The date of his promotion to lieutenant is unknown. He was promoted to captain in 1958.
On August 28, 1961, he was promoted to the newly created rank of rank of Commander, and served as the department’s deputy chief. He became Chief of police in 1966.
At the time of his passing he was survived by his wife, Anna (Renzi) Moretti and his two daughters; Mrs. Charles S. Davey of Warwick and Miss Roberta Moretti of Cranston.
He’s buried in St. Ann’s Cemetery in Cranston.
Rest in Peace.
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
Lt. Walter L. McGarry
Lieutenant Walter L. McGarry was appointed to the CPD on January 17, 1930. He passed away on June 4, 1974 and is buried in St. Ann’s Cemetery in Cranston.
Rest in peace.