Officer Peter L. McGuirl passed away suddenly on June 19, 1937, a few hours after completing his shift.  He’s buried in St. Ann’s Cemetery. 

     No further information is known at this time. 

     Patrolman Harold E. Greenhalgh is known to have been serving on the Cranston Police Department in 1938, and was still serving in the 1950s.  No further info at this time. 

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Cranston Herald
August 19, 1943

Ptl. Carl Fascia

     Officer Carl Fascia passed away suddenly on December 15, 1956, at the age of 41. He was well known in boxing circles and had earned the title of uncrowned Middle-Weight Champion of New England. He established the Fraternal Order of Police Junior Boxing League  

Det. John T. Enos

     Appointed to the CPD on September 1, 1947.   He retired a detective. 

Capt. Rowland G. Cornell

     Captain Rowland G. Cornell was born January 17, 1902.  He was appointed to the CPD in 1936; promoted to sergeant in 1944; to lieutenant in 1945, and to captain on July 1, 1954.  He was a member of the Cranston Police Relief Association, the Ionic Lodge of Masons, Philips Memorial Church, and the Fraternal Order of Police.  He passed away suddenly on October 26, 1956, at the age of 54.   

     Rest in peace. 

Ptl. Ernest J. Deschene

     Patrolman Ernest Joseph Deschene was appointed to the CPD on August 29, 1929.  

Chief John Bigbee
Cranston’s first Chief of Police.
1886 – 1908

     Chief John Bigbee was Cranston’s first Chief of Police.  He came to Cranston in 1868, and was appointed a police constable in 1878.  In 1880 he was elected Town Sergeant.  In 1886 he was elected Chief of Police, and served in both positions until his death in 1908.  He died as a result of an injury he received while fighting a fire near Cranston Street and Gansett Avenue.  The injury led to blood poisoning and he passed away on December 11, 1908.  He’s buried in St. Ann’s Cemetery. 

     He is also the first (known) Cranston police officer to die in the line of duty. 

     Rest in peace.    

Ptl. William H. Stone

     Patrolman William H. Stone, (85), passed away at his daughter’s home on March 30, 1930.  He was born in Cranston in 1845, and appointed a police constable in 1885, and served as a police officer for more than 30 years.   When the city established its first full-time police department in 1910, Officer Stone was one of the original ten patrolmen.  It was also in 1910 that he had the distinction of being the first police officer in Rhode Island, and perhaps New England, to utilize an automobile for police patrol duties.   Besides his daughter, he was survived by a son, three grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.  He’s buried in Pocassett Cemetery  on Dyer Ave. 

Rest in peace