Photo by Andrew Augustus WPRO News
By Sam Wroblewski, reporting by Andrew Augustus
Mayor Allan Fung has tapped State Police Lieutenant Colonel Michael Winquist to take over as the new Chief of Cranston police.
“This is the person that thanks to the selection committee and the interview process came out and we selected to lead the department for the future,” said Mayor Fung.
The 24-year veteran of the Rhode Island State Police would fill the position left vacant when the former Chief Marco Palumbo retired amid the ticket writing scandal.
“I look forward to bringing the lessons that I learned at State Police over tot he Cranston Police Department; but I want to be clear that this department is going to have its own autonomy, it’s not going to be an extension of the Rhode Island State Police,” said Winquist.
The Cranston City Council would need to approve the nomination before the deal is sealed.
“It was a no-brainer for me when this opportunity came up,” continued Winquist, “I was very proud to put in for this and very proud to be selected.”
Winquist said he hopes to start by October 1.
