Chief Richard P. St.Sauveur • Deputy Chief Robert W. VanNieuwenhuyze
Captain Robert M. Eaton, Jr. • Captain Michael C. Rheaume • Captain Kenneth A. Brown, Jr.
Lieutenant Dennis J. Paul • Sergeant Michael J. Mousseau • Sgt. Gerald P. Pezzullo, Jr.
Sgt. Kevin A. Proulx • Sergeant Cory M. Carpenter
more … Roll Call – Patrol Officers
Chief Richard P. St. Sauveur, Jr.
Chief of Police
Chief Richard P. St. Sauveur, Jr. was sworn in as Chief of Police on May 17, 2010. Prior to his appointment as Chief of Police, and over the course of nearly 22 years, he worked his way up through the ranks as a regular member of the Smithfield Police Department.
Chief St. Sauveur was hired as a full-time police officer on July 1, 1988 and graduated 2nd out of 39 in his class from the Rhode Island Municipal Police Academy that same year. In 1998, while holding the rank of Sergeant, he served as the Department’s accreditation manager and played a vital role in guiding the Smithfield Police Department toward initial accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA). He has served as a Field Training Officer, Patrol Division Lieutenant, Uniform Commander, and Deputy Chief. As Deputy Chief, his responsibilities included Internal Affairs, as well as officer-in-charge of the Department’s Collision Review Board. On three separate occasions, he served as Acting Chief of Police.
Chief St. Sauveur graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice, and as a member of Psi Chi (National Honor Society in Psychology), from Westfield State College. He also holds a Masters Degree in Administration of Justice from Salve Regina University. He graduated from Mt. St. Charles Academy, where he was an honor roll student and played for two championship high school hockey teams.
Chief St. Sauveur has been a resident of the Town of Smithfield for his entire career with the Smithfield Police Department. He is also certified by CALEA to assess law enforcement agencies throughout the country in their attempts to attain accredited status, and has traveled to Wisconsin, New York and Georgia to conduct assessments.
During his time off, he likes to spend time with his family and friends. He loves sports and is a dedicated Bruins, Patriots and Red Sox fan.
Deputy Chief Robert W. VanNieuwenhuyze
Deputy Chief of Police
Deputy Chief Robert W. VanNieuwenhuyze is a life-long resident of Smithfield. He was appointed as a full-time police officer on September 14, 1992, after graduating first in his class at the Rhode Island Municipal Police Academy. A graduate of Smithfield High School, he received a Bachelors Degree in Justice Studies from Rhode Island College in 1991, and later earned a Masters Degree in Administration of Justice from Salve Regina University. Deputy Chief VanNieuwenhuyze is also a graduate of the 236th Session of the FBI National Academy, located in Quantico, VA.
Earlier in his career, Deputy Chief VanNieuwenhuyze served as a patrol officer, firearms instructor, field training officer, detective, and juvenile officer. As a sergeant, he served as an assistant shift commander, and was later responsible for overseeing the Department’s first reaccreditation efforts from 2000 – 2003, as accreditation manager. Since then, he has served as a patrol shift commander and later, Detective Division Commander and prosecution officer. Most recently, he served as the Uniform Division Commander, overseeing the Department’s three patrol shift commanders and all patrol activity. He is also a certified CALEA assessor, and has traveled to Ohio and New Hampshire to conduct assessments.
As Deputy Chief, he is responsible for overseeing the Department’s three division commanders, and serves as the Internal Affairs Officer. In addition, he manages the Department’s continuing reaccreditation efforts, ensuring compliance with nationally recognized standards of excellence as set forth by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).
He was appointed Deputy Chief on July 12, 2010.
When off duty, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends. His other interests include camping, beekeeping, and classic cars.
Captain Robert M. Eaton, Jr.
Administrative Division Commander & Director of Training and Recruitment
Captain Robert M. Eaton, Jr. was appointed as a full-time police officer on June 5, 1990, after graduating from the Rhode Island Municipal Police Academy. Captain Eaton served in the Patrol and Detective Divisions, and currently is the Administrative Division Commander. He is the department’s Director of Training, Director of Recruitment & Selection, and oversees the department’s Community Police Unit, as well as its Operations & Traffic Services Division. He is also responsible for the administration of several federal, state, and private grants.
Captain Eaton is a graduate of the F.B.I. National Academy (session 248), and recently completed his Master’s coursework in Public Administration; he also holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Administration of Criminal Justice from Roger Williams University. He attended the University of Rhode Island’s Bureau of Criminology Investigation School, and completed the F.B.I. Law Enforcement Executive Development program as well as Bryant University’s Law Enforcement Leadership Development program. He has received specialty training in many areas including: Responses to Terrorism, Unusual Occurrences, National Incident Management System, Leadership, Homicide Investigation, and has numerous F.E.M.A. certifications. Captain Eaton has been the department’s Tactical and Training Officer since 1994, and is a member of the department’s Color Guard.
Captain Eaton enjoys volunteering his time to the community and spending time with his family. For several years, he served as a co-director of the Special Olympics R.I. Rhode Island Law Enforcement Torch Run and is an active member of the Smithfield Lions Club.
Captain Michael C. Rheaume
Detective Division Commander
Captain Michael C. Rheaume was appointed as a full-time police officer on January 8, 1991, after graduating from the RI Municipal Police Academy. He served in the Patrol Division for nine years and, in 1999, he was transferred into the Detective Division. In July of 2002, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant, transferred to the Patrol Division. In April of 2004, he was transferred to the Detective Division, appointed as a Property Control Officer and the Officer in Charge of the Marine Patrol. In July of 2005, he was appointed as Acting Detective Commander. In January 2006, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and appointed as the Public Information Officer. In October 2008, he was appointed as Detective Commander and Prosecution Officer. In July 2010, he was promoted to the rank of Captain. Captain Rheaume continues to serve as the commander of the Detective Division.
He has received extensive training in forensic and homicide investigative techniques, and also served as an instructor in the Citizen’s Police Academy and Law Enforcement Explorers Program. He currently serves as one of our four collision reconstruction specialists and is one of the department’s most experienced investigators.
While off duty, Captain Rheaume enjoys gardening and woodworking activities. He also enjoys spending time with his family, friends and reading about military history.
Captain Kenneth A. Brown, Jr.
Uniform Division Commander
Captain Kenneth A. Brown, Jr. was appointed as a full-time police officer on June 5, 1990, after completing the RI Municipal Police Academy. He served in the Patrol Division for eight years and received several departmental commendations for outstanding police work, one of which was for the apprehension of a suspect featured on the television series “America’s Most Wanted.” In 1998, he was transferred into the Detective Division where his responsibilities included investigating all facets of criminal activity. In January of 2002, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant, transferred into the Patrol Division, where he served for several months as the Assistant Commander on the second shift. In July of 2004, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and served as the second shift commander. In July of 2010, he was transferred back into the Detective Division as a Detective Lieutenant where he served as the department’s prosecution officer. In February of 2011, he was promoted to the rank of Captain where he currently serves as the Uniform Division Commander. He serves as the departments Critical Incident Commander, and serves as a member of the Commendation & Awards Committee, the Chairperson for the departments Collision Review Board, is the Fleet Operations Officer, is a member of the departments Training Committee and color guard. He also serves as the department’s liaison to Bryant University.
In December 2009, Captain Brown graduated Magna Cum Laude from Roger Williams University with a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice, and an Associate’s Degree in Computer Science.
In his spare time, Captain Brown plays baseball in the Rhode Island Men’s Baseball League, is a member of the Smithfield Men’s Softball League and has attended several Red Sox Fantasy Camps in Fort Myers, Florida. In 2011, he was a member of the “Easler’s Hitmen”, a team coached by Mike Easler and Frank Viola who won the camp championship and was honored with a championship ring at Fenway Park.
Captain Brown enjoys playing all types of sports, coaching youth sports and spending quality time with his family.
Lieutenant Dennis J. Paul
1st Shift Commander
Lt. Dennis J. Paul grew up in Smithfield and graduated from Smithfield High School in 1983. He entered the US Army and was stationed abroad during his military service. Returning from the service, he was appointed as a full-time police officer on January 8, 1992, and assigned to the Patrol Division. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in the Administration of Justice from Roger Williams University in 2002. Lt. Paul has received extensive in-service training at the FBI Pistol Instructor’s School and the Reid Interview and Interrogation School. He is also one of the department’s Firearms Training Officers. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in August 2009. When off duty, he enjoys spending time with his family. His other interests include scuba diving, woodworking and coaching youth sports.
Sergeant Michael J. Mousseau
Assistant 2nd Shift Commander
Sergeant Michael J. Mousseau was appointed as a full-time police officer in 1992, after graduating from the RI Municipal Police Academy. He spent his first ten years as a patrol officer and currently serves as the Assistant 2nd Shift Commander, previously serving as the department’s Operations Officer. He graduated from Smithfield High School in 1988. He received a Bachelors Degree in the Administration of Justice from Roger Williams University in 1993 and a Masters Degree in the Administration of Justice from Salve Regina University in 1997. He has attended numerous specialized training sessions. He successfully completed 240 hours of extensive training in the science of accident reconstruction and currently serves as one of our three accident reconstructionists. He is a former Field Training Officer and also attended an advanced DWI Detection School certifying him in standardized field sobriety training. He volunteers for many programs sponsored by the department and the community. He is a member of the Honor Guard, an instructor at the Citizens’ Police Academy, serves as a guest lecturer at driver’s education class, organized numerous blood drives and is proactive in creating a harmonious relationship with the town’s youth, especially middle and high school students.
Sergeant Gerald P. Pezzullo, Jr.
Operations Sergeant
Sergeant Gerald P. Pezzullo, Jr. was appointed as a full-time police officer on December 12th, 1997 upon completion of the Rhode Island Municipal Police Academy. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2006. Presently he is in charge of Operations and Traffic Services.
After graduating from Johnston High School in 1993, Sgt. Pezzullo attended the U.S. Army Military Intelligence School in Fort Huachuca, Arizona, where he was trained as a Counterintelligence Agent; he served in the U.S. Army Reserves for eight years. He graduated cum laude from Rhode Island College in 1997 with a Double Bachelor of Arts in Sociology & Justice Studies, and was inducted into the international sociological honor society (alpha kappa delta) that same year. After his first year of service with the Smithfield Police Department, he began his graduate studies at Salve Regina University. In 2001, he was inducted into the national criminal justice honor society (alpha phi sigma), and upon receiving his Master of Science in Administration of Justice in 2003, he was awarded the Richard T. Marquise Prize for graduating top of his class. Presently, he is working on his doctoral dissertation, in pursuit of a Ph.D. in Criminology and Justice Policy at the Northeastern University School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. His academic research and scholarship has been recognized with awards by the American Society of Criminology – Division of Corrections & Sentencing, in 2008, and the SUNY Symposium on Crime & Justice in 2010. Sgt. Pezzullo has also served as an adjunct faculty member for several colleges in MA & RI, instructing on a range of criminal justice topics. During his most recent two-year appointment as a Lecturer, at UMass Boston, he taught a senior-level Police in Society course; he routinely serves as a guest lecturer for various college classes in ethics, policing, and criminal justice.
Sgt. Pezzullo is a Defensive Tactics & Use of Force Instructor certified in various forms of control tactics, self-defense, weapon disarming & retention, and non-violent conflict resolution. He coordinates and conducts Use of Force training for the Department, and, for several years, served as a Defensive Tactics Instructor for the Rhode Island Municipal Police Academy. He also serves as one of the Department’s Active Shooter Instructors, responsible for ensuring the best expeditious and tactical police-entry response to critical school or workplace incidents. Throughout his tenure with the Department, he has been assigned to each of three shifts, and prior to his promotion served as one of the Department’s Field Training Officers. He served as the Assistant Shift Commander on both the 1st and 2nd Shift, as well as the Operations Sergeant – his current assignment. He has served on several Department boards and committees, including its Collision Review Board. He is currently a member of the Department’s Training Committee and serves as the Chair for the Town of Smithfield Traffic Safety Commission. Sgt. Pezzullo has received numerous letter of appreciation, four letters of recognition, and was named the Rhode Island College Justice Studies Alumni Honor Roll Award recipient in 2009.
Sgt. Pezzullo is heavily involved in community activities and organizations. Along with serving on the executive boards for both the Smithfield Fraternal Order of Police – Lodge No.17 and the Northern Rhode Island Youth Lacrosse Association, he volunteers his time to assist with the coaching of youth lacrosse and soccer teams, and assisting with self-defense classes at a local karate studio. He enjoys martial arts, making music, and camping with his wife and three children.
Sergeant Kevin A. Proulx
Assistant 1st Shift Commander
Sergeant Kevin A. Proulx began his law enforcement career in 1987, as a reserve officer. He was appointed as a full-time police officer on August 20, 1989, and served twelve years in the Patrol Division. Sgt. Proulx graduated from Community College of Rhode Island, where he received an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice. While working in the Patrol Division, Sgt. Proulx received two commendations and numerous letters of recognition for outstanding police work. On October 7, 2001, he was transferred into the Community Policing Unit where he served as the elementary school DARE Officer. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in March 2010. When off duty, Sgt. Proulx enjoys spending time with his wife and two children. His other interests include fishing, scuba diving, biking and coaching youth sports.
Sergeant Cory M. Carpenter
Sergeant Cory M. Carpenter was appointed as a full-time police officer on June 30, 2000, after graduating from the RI Municipal Police Academy. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice, with a minor in Spanish from Salve Regina University. Sgt. Carpenter has been a department Field Training Officer since 2007. He has also successfully completed extensive firearms training at the FBI Pistol Instructor’s School and is one of the SPD’s firearms Instructors.
Cory was promoted to Sergeant in July 2010. While off duty, he enjoys traveling, hiking, home improvement projects; and spending time with family, friends, and his dog Lola.
