While most members of police departments spend a majority of their time working with people to help others, one officer is also an active member and instructor with search and rescue dogs. Sgt. Erica Vieira came to the University of Rhode Island in 1988, first as an officer before she became a sergeant in 2007,…
University Police Lieutenant Michael Donohue has worked for the University of Rhode Island for the past 27 years, but he has spent his whole life working for different areas of emergency personnel. At 18, Donohue began as a volunteer firefighter in Peace Dale, Rhode Island, and worked for different departments around the state as…
While he has worked for the URI Police Department for the past 14 years, Lt. Richard Moniz has spent almost his entire life working in law enforcement. At 14-years-old, Moniz began working in a police department as a clerk. He worked there full time until he was about 20, when he started going to…
University of Rhode Island police officer Mark Chearino has a partner while on the job, but this companion is a 10-year-old yellow lab named Astro. The pair often makes its appearance at community policing events across campus, and students always seem to know the two by name. “I don’t know what he does, but…
Some police officers at the University of Rhode Island have had extensive policing backgrounds even before they began their work at the university. Michael Chalek, lieutenant for the police department, knew he wanted to become a cop when between his junior high and high school years. Although his goal was to become a Rhode…
Every career begins somewhere, and the chief of University of Rhode Island Police, Stephen Baker, Â began his career as the first police major the university has ever seen. Baker, who is also the director of public safety, had his first policing job at the Westerly Police Department in Westerly, Rhode Island. He said that he…
As campus police officers, it is important to be invested not only in the day-to-day work but in the surrounding community as well. One police officer at the University of Rhode Island is an embodiment of this investment, both on and off the clock. Mark Brasil, a police detective for the university, began working…
Not every campus police officer at the University of Rhode Island always had their sights set on law enforcement, but one made his decision after retirement. Officer Paul Hanrahan’s first career was in the military, starting when he joined the air force right after he graduated from North Kingstown High School. He served in…
Not every campus police officer at the University of Rhode Island always had their sights set on law enforcement, but one made his decision after retirement. Officer Paul Hanrahan’s first career was in the military, starting when he joined the air force right after he graduated from North Kingstown High School. He served in…
Through their work on the University of Rhode Island campus, police officers are able to communicate with students, often with the potential to create lasting relationships. The best part of the job has been the interactions and lasting relationships with the students, according to Officer Tom Guglielmetti. He said that he has been invited…