WPD January Promotions

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Created: January 29, 2016

The department held a promotion ceremony on January 12th. Detective Frank McGee, a 15 year veteran, was promoted to the rank of Patrol Sergeant. Gilda Fortier, a 12 year veteran, was promoted to Detective. And Nadine Parmenter, an 11 year veteran, was officially acknowledged and sworn in for her promotion to detectives several months ago. Good luck in your new positions and go get 'em.
The vacancies were made by the recent retirements of Detective Eric Johnson and Sergeant Steve Fernandez. Eric, a 22 year veteran, an esteemed and well respected Detective for 15 years, and a lawyer retired to practice law with his wife. Steve, a 20 year veteran with 14 years as a Patrol Sergeant, retired to start a second law enforcement career as a Patrolman with the Coventry PD. Eric and Steve-thank you from all of us for your service, contributions and many memories. Live long and prosper.

Officers Use New Tourniquets to Save a Life

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Created: January 19, 2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 19, 2016

Warwick Police Officers administered life saving measures to a severely injured Warwick man on Saturday night, January 16. At approximately 8:30 p.m., officers were dispatched to 212 Sandy Lane, Bayside Apartments for a report of a man yelling for help. Officers located the victim, a 41 year old Warwick man to the rear of Building C bleeding heavily from the arms. The victim sustained a severe laceration to the right arm, causing arterial bleeding.

Officers Brian Chianese, Geoffrey Waldman, and Aaron Kay applied a department issued tourniquet to the victim's right arm and applied additional pressure to stop the bleeding. Warwick Fire and Rescue arrived to further administer advanced life saving measures to the victim.  Through the quick assessment and actions of the officers and fire fighters, the victim survived his severe injuries. The officers' life saving actions is in keeping with the fine tradition of the Warwick Police Department.

All officers of the Warwick Police Department received training in injury assessment and application of tourniquets for severe arterial injury in November of 2015. All officers were issued Combat Application Tourniquets (CAT) after having received this training. This is the first use of a tourniquet by Warwick Police Officers after being issued this vital piece of equipment.

POC. Major Christine Kelley

Just Dan's Convenience Store Robbery Solved

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Created: January 11, 2016

Arrests Made in ROBBERY and EMBEZZLEMENT from Warwick Convenience Store
1/8/2016

                                                 
On 01/02/16 at approximately 7:15 PM, members of the Warwick Police Department responded to Just Dan's Convenience Store at 2699 Post Rd. for an armed robbery. The store's clerk indicated that a young Hispanic male, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and black pants with a bandana over his face had entered the store and pointed a black handgun at her. The suspect then removed approximately $2,000 in U.S currency from the safe and fled the store.
Through the review of video footage, Warwick Detectives were able to confirm the clerk's account of the event, and her description of the suspect.
The store owner indicated that he believed that a former female employee may have been involved in the robbery. The former female employee had been hired from the Craigslist web site. Upon completing her first solo shift on 11/28/2015, she allegedly took about $600 from the store. The owner indicated the female employee never returned after that shift. It was the determined that the former employee was Erica Bertholic of Providence, DOB 03/09/1995.
Detectives referenced a police database and identified Tylor Ryan of Cranston, RI, DOB 03/06/1996, as a male associate of Erica Bertholic. The detectives then obtained a photograph of Tylor Ryan. It was compared to the video footage from the alleged robbery. The detectives determined that the same person was in both images.
Erica Bertholic was arrested on 1/5/2016 and charged with one count of Felony Embezzlement. She is not believed to be involved with the alleged robbery.
Tylor Ryan was arrested on 1/8/2016 and charged with one count of First Degree Robbery.
At the time of his arrest, Tylor Ryan was wearing the same clothing that he was wearing in the video taken on the night of the robbery. He was not in possession of a handgun.

Captain Christopher Stewart
Warwick Police Detectives
(401) 468-4200

Commendation Ceremony-December 2015

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Created: December 17, 2015

The Warwick PD held a commendation ceremony last night at City Hall.

L-R: Sgt Tom Snow, Off Chris Lo, Off Steve Major and Off Jim Michailides receive the Life Saving Award. In May 2015, as a team, they worked together to talk down a suicidal female from jumping off the Greenwich Ave overpass onto Rt 95.

Off Hovsep Sarkisian receives a First Class Commendation for his outstanding performance during a shootout with a wanted Fugitive from California in August 2014.

Also, Dispatcher Kristen Walker received a Certificate of Appreciation. In June she observed on surveillance video a prisoner in the process of hanging himself in the jail cell. It was her quick response alerting officers in the building that likely saved this prisoner's life.