Rhode Island Police Chiefs’ Association Recognizes Officers Who Received RIDOT Highway Safety Champion Award

May 30, 2023

PROVIDENCE — The Rhode Island Police Chiefs’ Association congratulates 54 officers who were recently honored with the Rhode Island Department of Transportation’s Highway Safety Champion Award.

The awards were presented on Friday, May 5 at Crowne Plaza in Warwick. Bristol Police Chief and RIPCA President Kevin Lynch spoke at the event, along with RIDOT Chief Of Highway Safety Gabrielle Abbate.

The Highway Safety Champion Award focuses on five major highway safety priorities: occupant protection, impaired driving, distracted driving, speed management, and pedestrian and bicycle safety. It provides agencies an opportunity to recognize individual officers who made a significant difference in their community through traffic safety activities which ultimately reduce injuries, save lives, and detect and deter crime.

This year’s honorees represent 22 local police departments and the Rhode Island State Police. They are:

Bristol: Derek T. Jensen
Barrington: Michael J. Gregorzek,
Burrillville: Wayne M. Richardson
Central Falls: Robert S. Matook, Sarah E. McNulty
Coventry: Stephen W. Fernandez
Cranston: Jared J. Hardy, Patrick J. McCoy
Cumberland: Stephen E. Bannister
Jamestown: Derek H. Carlino, Karen A. Catlow
Johnston: Edward Gonzalez
Little Compton: Ryan C. LeClaire
North Kingstown: Donald L. Barrington, Jared R. DeAngelis
North Providence: Joseph C. Cole, Ryan D. Furlong
Portsmouth: Ryan J. Czajka, Michael J. Morse, Brian P. Peters, Daniel A. Serina, Ryan C. Stinson, James S. Thulier
Providence: Joseph M. Amoroso, Jose L. Deschamps, Frank J. Furtado, Joseph M. Lopes, Cory J. Vingi
Rhode Island State Police: Jared J. Andrews, Cameron J. Clift, Jason R. DiFusco, Michael J. Doherty, Daniel M. Fanous, Antonio J. Miguel, Dimitrius Jerome Palmer, Andrew B. Pilling, Christopher J. Zarrella
Richmond: Ryan M. Donohue, William P. Litterio, Anthony D. Meola
South Kingstown: Michael C. Chappell, David J. Marler, Jonathan C. McHugh
Tiverton: Jason M. Kobelecki, John C. Leduc
Warren: Darrin G. Reynolds
Warwick: Nicholas J. DiNardo, Keara M. Enos, Michael T. Isherwood, Richard P. Odell
West Warwick: Robert W. Hazard
Westerly: David M. Spinella Jr.
Woonsocket: Nicholas J. Maglio, Adam T. Remick

Overall Highway Champion Awards were presented to Deschamps of Providence Police and DiFusco of Rhode Island State Police.