R.I. Government Agencies | Privacy Policy |
The Bristol Police Department's operations include two primary divisions: the Patrol Division and the Detective Division. Click one of the divisions below to learn more about their functions:
Patrol Division > Detective Division > Motorcycle Unit >
The operations of the Bristol Police Department also include the following:
Mobile Command Post > Bike Patrol Unit > Color Guard >
To learn more about our administration, view our Organizational Chart.
The Bristol Police Department employs 40 sworn law enforcement personnel and 12 civilians to accomplish their mission. The patrol division consists of 22 officers, excluding supervisors. The 22 officers assigned to patrol are assigned to 3 or 4 beats (depending on a few variables). There is a minimum of 3 beats and the possibility of 4 when there is adequate staff to cover the sections of town. When there is a fourth beat officers will divide beat 2 in half. One officer will be assigned to each beat, unless it is summertime where two additional officers are assigned on foot or bicycle in beat 2, to patrol the downtown area. The minimum staffing for any given shift will be 3 officers and 1 sergeant. In addition, lieutenants are working during the week on various shifts. The maximum number of officers assigned will be 5 on patrol and 2 supervisors. On any given shift there can be 1 to 3 supervisors working, including the lieutenants.
The Bristol Police Department has a Motorcycle Unit that has been in existence for many years. The Motorcycle Unit is a unit within the Patrol Division. The Police Motorcycle has been used in police work since the early 1900’s. It is said that police officers on motorcycles replaced police officers on horses. Until early 2000, a Police Officer with a valid motorcycle license was eligible to operate the police motorcycle.
In the year 2000 the Bristol Police Department purchased a 2000 FLHP-I Harley-Davidson, Police Edition, Road King. With the purchase of this highly engineered piece of equipment, along with a substantial growth in traffic, the training and operating procedures were revised. The present Bristol Police Departments Motor Officer is a Rhode Island Licensed Motorcycle operator. In addition he/she must complete a specialized police motor officer course, specifically designed for police motor officers. The course is a grueling two-week hands-on course, designed by Northwestern University in cooperation with the Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Company.
The Bristol Motorcycle unit is most notably been known as the very first unit leading the Bristol Fourth of July Parade. The Police motorcycle is capable of maintaining and patrolling an area similar to that of a patrol car. Many times the police motorcycle is able to patrol areas such as the waterfront boardwalk, the Town Common and the East Bay Bike path with little or no impact on the people utilizing and enjoying these areas. The motor officer is a community-orientated arm of the police department, able to easily interact with Bristol residents and visitors. In addition to patrolling the streets and areas of Bristol, the motorcycle unit on many occasions, in fair and foul weather, acts as an ambassador, representing the Bristol Police Department and the Town of Bristol to other cities and towns in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts, assisting with events such as dignitary escorts, funeral escorts and organized motorcycle events.
The Detective Division is responsible for providing the follow-up investigation required to solve reported offenses. The Detective Division is also responsible for developing the intelligence necessary to pro-actively prevent criminal activity. The members of the Detective Division conduct the leg-work for most investigations and are responsible for the collection and evaluation of physical evidence. The Detective Division is broken down into three sections which consist of juvenile investigations, adult investigations, and narcotics investigations.
Through the hard work and dedication of the members of this division, the Bristol Police Department is capable of providing its citizens with quality investigative services. Services provided by the Detective Division include:
The Detective Division is Commanded by Lieutenant Steven Contente and is supervised by Detective Sergeant James Motta. The Division consists of Detective Keith Martin and Detective Adam Clifford.
The Prosecution Division is responsible for prosecuting all adults and juveniles who commit offenses in the Town of Bristol. All adults charged with a misdemeanor, which are crimes punishable by up to a year in jail and/or up to $1000 fine, are disposed of primarily by the Prosecution Division, unless the case goes to trial. In trial cases, thhe Town Solicitor will prosecute the case. The Prosecution Division also handles all traffic cases that are referred to the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal, Bristol Municipal Court all discovery issues and all subpoena issues for any of the Courts.
Assigned to the Prosecution Division is Detective Keith Martin.
The Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) is responsible for collection, preservation and documentation of all major crime scenes. The unit maintains a liason with the Rhode Island Crime Lab and the Forensic Services Division of the Department of Health. The unit is active in organizations such as the RI Criminalists Associates, New England Division of the International Association for Identification and the International Association for Identification. The Detective Division is responsible for follow-up investigation of felony crimes reported to the Bristol Police Department.
All felony cases are evaluated for solvability by the Detective Division Supervisor. If a case has a good chance of solvability, the case is assigned to a detective. Case solvability is determined by the existence of investigational leads. These leads must indicate the potential for successful arrest and conviction. Since police resources are limited, it is not effective or practical to devote investigational resources to cases with little chance of a successful resolution. Common examples of investigational leads include whether a suspect is known by a victim, existence of fingerprints, existence of a surveillance photo, or other substantial information which my lead to the identification of a suspect. If sufficient investigational leads do not exist, the case will be suspended. If new information develops in the future, a case can be reopened and assigned to a detective.
Detectives may become involved with the investigation of other incidents which could pose substantial risk to the lives or property of our citizens. Such cases may include missing persons, sex registrant management, and other suspicious activity that may result in a criminal offense.
In
December of 2004 the Bristol Police Department acquired a Mobile Command Post
Vehicle. The vehicle is a 31' Freightliner van consisting of a communication room
and an incident command staff conference room. The communications center is equipped
with radio communications, cellular phone communications and a video link. The
vehicle is self supportive and available to respond to a variety of situations,
such as Homeland Security Incidents, Crime Prevention Programs, Traffic Control
Situations and Criminal Investigation support. This vehicle has been used to support
police personnel during the Bristol Fourth of July celebration, Last Night Concert
and a variety of other events in this community. The vehicle has also taken part
in Homeland Security trainings and had served as an incident command post during
these trainings. The vehicle is currently operated by four members of the Bristol
Police Department specifically trained in the operation of the vehicle.
The Bristol Police Department bicycle patrol unit begain in 2001 when a majority of the full time officers were trained in the vast array of maneuvers on a police mountain bike. The Bicycle Patrol is part of the Patrol Division and provides the Bristol Police Department with a community-oriented crime prevention tool. During the summer months, bike officers concentrate patrol in the downtown and waterfront areas when these areas experience an increase in tourism to shops, restaurants and taverns. The Bicycle Patrol is responsible for the safety of the patrons who frequent these establishments and to keep the peace for those who reside in the surrounding area.
The Bicycle Patrol is instrumental in crowd control during the busy Fourth of July festivities. Due to the large volume of pedestrian and motor vehicle traffic during thhe weeks surrounding the Fourth of July, the Bicycle Patrol is increased and kept busy responding to calls where police cruisers have difficultly maneuvering.
In July 2005, Lieutenant Brian C. Burke and Detective Adam Clifford attended the Police Cyclist Instructor Course at George Washington University in Washington, DC. This course was instructed by the International Police Mountain Bike Association (IPMBA) http://www.ipmba.org. Lieutenant Burke and Detective. Clifford currently instruct a 40-hour Police Cyclist Course yearly. Officers who are selected for the training must be highly motivated, in excellent physical condition and must successfully complete a comprehensive written and on-bike test. The course consists of riding up and down stairs, suspect takedowns, cone courses, basic bicycle maintenance and other aspects unique to that of a police bike officer.
Since the inception of the Bristol Police Bicycle Unit, bike officers have made arrests for narcotics violations, disorderly conduct, DUI, domestic violence, vandalism and assault. The Bicycle Patrol Unit strives to maintain a positive relationship between the Police Department and the community while ensuring that the quality of life for the Town’s residents is maintained.
Officers on bicycles afford our department members the opportunity to communicate with our residents and tourists more frequently than when on patrol in a police car. When you see a Bristol Police Officer on bike patrol, do not hesitate to speak with him or her regarding any issue or question you may have.
 Newport St. Patrick's Day Parade |
The color guard has six active members: Sergeant Ricardo Mourato, Patrolman George Lefebvre, Patrolman Greg Silvia, Sergeant Paul Medeiros, Patrolman Corey Lamirande, and Sergeant Steve St. Pierre. They attend parades, funerals, political functions, ceremonies and special events.
Newport St. Patrick's Day Parade
