Cmdr. Harold N. Johnson

     Commander Harold N. Johnson was appointed to the CPD in 1929 and began his career patrolling a beat in Aubrun.  He was promoted to sergeant in December of 1945.  In 1957 he was promoted to the rank of Commander, and was the first CPD officer to hold this rank.  He retired in 1965 after serving the citizens of Cranston for 36 years.   Upon retiring, he began working for Fleet National Bank security division, and remained in that position until 1970.  

     He passed away on April 10, 1988 at the age of 81, and is buried in All Saints Cemetery in Warwick, R. I.

     Rest in peace.   

Det. Edward F. Laborio

      Detective Edward F. Laborio was appointed to the CPD on February 26, 1951.  He was a Coast Guard veteran of World War II, and a member of the VFW.  He was one of the founding members of the International Brotherhood of Police Officers.  He served the citizens of Cranston for 32 years before retiring as a detective in 1983.  He passed away on July 4, 1988 and is buried in St. Ann’s Cemetery.   

     Rest in peace.

Sgt. Albert Burnside

     Sergeant Albert “Perry” Burnside was appointed to the Cranston Police Department on April 28, 1958 and retired in 1978 after serving the citizens of Cranston for 20 years.  After retiring, he worked as a RIPTA bus driver for ten years.  He passed away on September 1, 1988, survived by his wife, mother, sister, and two daughters, and three grandchildren. 

     Rest in Peace.  

     Lieutenant Howard S. Sharples passed away on January 21, 1989 at the age of 76.  He was born in Attleboro, Massachusetts, but lived in Cranston most of his life.   He served with the CPD from 1964 until his retirement in 1975.  He then became a traffic engineer for the city.   He was an army veteran of World War II.  He’s buried in Pawtuxet Memorial Park in Warwick, R. I. 

     Rest in peace. 

Captain Adelbert J. Hay

     Captain Adelbert “Del” Hay, (72) passed away on June 11, 1989.  he was the husband of Mary F. (Coffey) Hay.  He was an Army Air Force veteran of World War II, and was appointed to the CPD on November 11, 1943, and served for 34 years before retiring in 1977.  He’s buried in St. Ann’s Cemetery.

     Besides his wife, he was survived by his two son, four daughters, and eight grandchildren.      

     Rest in peace out brother.  

Detective Dell Hay – 1953

     Detective Raymond V. Deschene, a lifelong resident of Cranston,  passed away on September 19, 1989 at the age of 62.  He retired in 1974 at the rank of detective after 23 years of service to the citizens of Cranston.  He was a navy veteran of World War II.  After his retirement he worked for the Fleet National Bank security department for 15 years.  He’s buried in St. Ann’s Cemetery.

     Rest in peace.

Det. Kenneth Gilkenson

     Detective Kenneth Gilkenson, Sr., (59), passed away on October 6, 1990.  He was the husband of Elizabeth M. (Bushman) Gilkenson, and father of retired CPD Detective Glen Gilkenson.  

     Ken retired from the Cranston Police Department in 1987 after 30 years of service.

     He’s buried in All Saints Cemetery in Warwick, R.I.

     Rest in peace our brother.  

     Sergeant Charles A. Carney was sworn in as a patrolman on February 6, 1943.  On June 17, 1943, he was inducted into the army and served with the 873rd Airborne Division in the South Pacific where he served for 22 months and earned five battle stars.  After his honorable discharge, he returned to the police department.  In 1952 he was promoted to detective, and in 1964 to the rank of sergeant.  He retired in 1973 after 32 years of service.  

     At about 2:30 p.m. on April 17, 1967, Sgt. Carney was on patrol when he discovered a house on Niantic Avenue to be on fire with people inside.  He immediately entered the house and rescued a sleeping mother and her 5-year-old child.        

     Sgt. Carney passed away on October 15, 1990, and is buried in St. Ann’s Cemetery. 

     Rest in peace.

      Captain Howard E. “Hunk” Jordon, Jr., was born in Providence and lived in Cranston most of his life. He was a navy veteran of WWII and a member of the VFW and the American Legion.  He was appointed to the CPD on October 20, 1939, and served the citizens of Cranston for 38 years before retiring in 1978 at the rank of captain.  He passed away on October 8, 1992, and is buried in Pocassett Cemetery in Cranston.  

     Rest in peace.

Herald News
October 26, 1939