2012 -- S 2174

=======

LC00635

=======

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

____________

S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING CHIEF VINCENT VESPIA ON BEING INDUCTED INTO THE

CRIMINAL JUSTICE HALL OF FAME

     Introduced By: Senators Sosnowski, McCaffrey, Felag, Algiere, and Bates

     Date Introduced: January 19, 2012

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

1-1

     WHEREAS, The Criminal Justice Hall of Fame was created by Attorney General Peter

1-2

Kilmartin to recognize people who have made significant contributions to the state's criminal

1-3

justice system.  The inaugural class to be inducted in 2012 was selected by the newly formed

1-4

Criminal Justice Hall of Fame Board of Trustees; and

1-5

     WHEREAS, Nominated by State Police Col. Steven O’Donnell, Chief Vincent Vespia,

1-6

South Kingstown’s Chief of Police, was chosen by a unanimous vote to be one of this year’s

1-7

inductees; and

1-8

     WHEREAS, With fifty-one years of varied law enforcement experience and wisdom

1-9

under his belt, Chief Vespia is described as a legend in the business, a role model for young

1-10

police officers, and a person who sets the standards for others to emulate; and

1-11

     WHEREAS, Chief Vespia’s career in law enforcement began after his service in the

1-12

United States Army during the Korean Conflict.  Upon discharge, he returned to Rhode Island

1-13

and entered the State Police Academy.  He served as a state trooper for the next twenty-one years

1-14

until South Kingstown had the good fortune of acquiring him as its Chief of Police; and

1-15

     WHEREAS, Over the past five decades, Chief Vespia has spearheaded numerous

1-16

technological transformations in the law enforcement field and his own department.  When his

1-17

career began in the early 1960s, police work was vastly different than what it is today.  There

1-18

were no computers in squad cars or cell phones to keep in contact.  Helmets were yet to be used

1-19

and even radios were not available; and

2-20

     WHEREAS, During Chief Vespia’s tenure, the South Kingstown Police Department has

2-21

become a state-of-the-art facility, and with a dramatic growth in the town’s population, the force

2-22

has expanded from thirty-three officers to fifty-two; and

2-23

     WHEREAS, For the past thirty years, Chief Vespia has served and protected the citizens

2-24

of South Kingstown.  Although he is admittedly a “street cop and investigator” at heart, Chief

2-25

Vespia is also a consummate professional and all-around good person, which has made him a

2-26

natural and effective leader and eminently deserving of the honor and distinction of being

2-27

inducted into the Criminal Justice Hall of Fame; now, therefore be it 

2-28

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

2-29

hereby applauds and congratulates Chief Vincent Vespia on being a 2012 inductee into the Rhode

2-30

Island Criminal Justice Hall of Fame.  We furthermore thank him for more than fifty years of

2-31

dedicated service to the people of South Kingstown and the State of Rhode Island; and be it

2-32

further

2-33

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

2-34

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to South Kingstown Police Chief Vincent Vespia.

=======

LC00635

=======