Barrington council praises retiring police chief

Chief John LaCross will step down on Friday, Feb. 8

Posted 2/6/19

The Barrington Town Council made a special presentation at its meeting on Monday night, praising the work of Barrington Police Chief John LaCross, who will officially retire on Friday, Feb. 8.

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Barrington council praises retiring police chief

Chief John LaCross will step down on Friday, Feb. 8

Posted

The Barrington Town Council made a special presentation at its meeting on Monday night, praising the work of Barrington Police Chief John LaCross, who will officially retire on Friday, Feb. 8.

Chief LaCross was joined by his wife Judy at the front of the council chambers while Council President Michael Carroll read a resolution highlighting many of the department's accomplishments during Chief LaCross's tenure. 

The resolution read, in part:

"Whereas, John M. LaCross has fulfilled his role honorably with unsurpassed distinction and professionalism; and 

"Whereas, John M. LaCross, during his tenure with the Barrington Police Department, soared to great professional heights with the implementation of new department rules and regulations in 2004; and 

"Whereas, John M. LaCross, in Oct. 2016, obtained state accreditation, provided additional training classes, increased the command structure and added a full-time school resource officer; and

"Whereas, John M. LaCross, over the last 17 years, has hired 27 police officers and civilian staff, accounting for 75 percent of the Barrington Police Department; and

"Whereas, John M. LaCross, serving as the Chief of Police, accomplished a decrease by 85 percent in the last 10 years of underage drinking violations; formulated the first underage drinking enforcement policy in the state of Rhode Island; testified in support of the keg registration and social host bills at the Statehouse; since 2007, Barrington has had zero drunk driving fatalities among teens; obtained a national record for zero pedestrian fatalities in the past 58 years; has reduced the number of assaults by 40 percent, house breaks by 25 percent, larcenies by 49 percent, and vandalism by 55 percent and according to the uniform crime reports, an 18 percent drop in overall crime from 2008 to 2018; and 

"Whereas, John M. LaCross has, by his actions, his example, and his leadership demonstrated the very best of public service and ensured that the people of Barrington are protected and served by the finest public employees in the state; and 

"Now, Therefore Be It Resolved that the honorable town council of the town of Barrington, state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, by virtue of the authority vested in them by the citizens of Barrington, on their behalf, and by these presents, extend to John M. LaCross their collective appreciation for a job well done and best wishes on his well-deserved retirement."

Following the reading of the resolution, Chief LaCross shook hands with members of the council, and other town officials. 

New police chief will be sworn in Feb. 12

There will be a special swearing in ceremony for the next Barrington Police Chief Dino DeCrescenzo on Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. The event will be held inside Barrington High School's John Gray Auditorium.

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