The University of Rhode Island Police Department has recognized the work and daily courage of its officers in its second intra-departmental awards and swearing-in ceremony.
Four officers were honored for saving lives and outstanding service to the URI community, while eight officers who recently joined the department were sworn in.
“I would like to congratulate all the award recipients for their accomplishments,” said Maj. Michael Jagoda, a Charlestown resident. “I continue to be impressed by the dedication and commitment that all of our police officers put forth in their daily activities. The efforts these police officers display daily make our campus a safer place in which to live, work and learn.”
University Police Officers John Bush, of Charlestown, and Nicholas Detroia, of Warwick, were honored for their efforts to save the life of a suicidal student. The two responded to a report of a suicidal female and immediately began life-saving procedures. The officers called for Emergency Medical Technicians and assisted them in getting the young woman into an ambulance and to the hospital. The officers’ prompt response prevented a tragic loss of life and reflected the highest standards and training of the URI Police Department.
“Officers DeTroia and Bush take their professional obligations very seriously and value our partnership with our entire community,” Jagoda said. “During a critical incident, officers DeTroia and Bush reacted quickly and resorted to their extensive training to provide aid to a person who sustained serious injuries. Their direct actions saved one of our community members from suffering a more serious injury or even possible death. I am very proud of these officers for their quick actions and for performing at such a high professional level.”
It was the second departmental honor for Detroia, who last year earned the Meritorious Service Award for his aid in apprehending a homicide suspect near the University’s Alton Jones Campus.
Sergeant Michael Flanagan, of Coventry, and University Police Officer Paul Hanrahan, of North Kingstown, received the department’s Outstanding Service Award for training Brown University police officers in active shooter procedures to help protect the Providence school’s campus. Flanagan and Hanrahan are the URIPD’s two active shooter instructors, and they made extensive preparations to train Brown police personnel and dispatchers to meet the standards and techniques of the Department of Homeland Security. The
month-long training regimen included a review of safety measures, expectations, goals and training exercises.
“Sergeant Flanagan and Officer Hanrahan’s commitment to training has resulted in law enforcement agencies throughout Rhode Island recognizing the skill level of our instructors and police officers,” Jagoda said. “Not only have Sergeant Flanagan and Officer Hanrahan helped train our URI police officers, they have helped train officers from other law enforcement agencies in the proper techniques and mechanics of responding effectively to a critical incident such as an active shooter. This is another example of how progressive our police department is and the level of training our officers receive.”
Flanagan was honored last year for his efforts investigating a felonious assault that eventually led to an arrest. Hanrahan was also honored last year for his work as the department’s Community Policing Liaison.
The department also welcomed eight new members to its ranks with the swearing in of sergeants Paul Ricci, of North Providence, and Russell Hayes, of Newport, University police officers 2 Joseph DiIorio, of North Kingstown, and Jacob
Malone, of South Kingstown, and University police officers 1 Anthony Brito, of Brentwood, N.Y., Shawn Miner, of Providence, Michael Intrieri, of Westerly, and Aaron Koehler, of West Warwick.
The evening’s master of ceremonies, David Lavallee, assistant director of Marketing and Communications, took the time to also note the hiring of the University’s first K-9 officer, Figaro, nearly a year ago. Officer Figaro is a bomb detection dog working under the professional guidance of Sgt. Ericka Vieira, of Richmond.
The URI police department thanked all of the honorees, as well as all members of its staff, for their unwavering commitment to serve in a professional manner while going above and beyond the call of duty to make URI a safe and welcoming place for all members of the community.
