Command Staff
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Command Staff
Colonel Michael J. Winquist - Chief of Police
Colonel Michael J. Winquist was sworn as the Department's twenty-first Chief of Police on October 1, 2014. He is responsible for all operational and administrative functions of the Cranston Police Department.
Colonel Winquist was appointed on October 1, 2014, as the 21st Chief of the Cranston Police Department, becoming the first chief in the department’s history selected from outside the agency. He brought with him more than 24 years of service with the Rhode Island State Police, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel/Deputy Superintendent after serving in nearly every major division, including uniform operations, criminal investigations, narcotics, intelligence, and multiple federal and regional task forces.
Drawing on this extensive operational and executive experience, Colonel Winquist has emphasized professionalism, innovation, and community engagement as the foundation of the Cranston Police Department. One of his first initiatives was the creation of the Office of Community Outreach, which reinforced his commitment to community policing and helped build trust between officers and residents. He also placed a strong emphasis on positive interactions between youth and law enforcement by reestablishing the Cranston Police Explorer Program. Under his leadership, the department has implemented cutting-edge technology such as body-worn cameras and license plate readers to enhance transparency, accountability, and officer safety.
Colonel Winquist has led the department through multiple national and state accreditation processes, strengthening policies, training, and accountability. These efforts, combined with data-driven policing strategies, have contributed to historic reductions in crime throughout the City of Cranston.
At the state level, Colonel Winquist serves as Chair of the Rhode Island Police Officers Commission on Standards and Training and has been a member of the Rhode Island Police Officers Executive Board for several years, helping to shape statewide training standards, policy development, and law enforcement accountability.
Colonel Winquist holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Administration of Justice from Roger Williams University and a Master of Science degree in Administration of Justice from Anna Maria University. He is also a graduate of the 251st Session of the prestigious FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
Awards and Achievements
In 2025, Colonel Winquist was inducted into the Rhode Island Criminal Justice Hall of Fame in recognition of his distinguished career and lasting contributions to law enforcement.
In addition to his professional responsibilities, Colonel Winquist serves on the Board of Directors for Special Olympics Rhode Island and is a Powerlifting Coach for the Special Olympics North Stars team.
Major Todd Patalano
Major Todd Patalano has been a member of the Cranston Police Department since 1995. He is second in command of the police department since 2014 and currently serves as the Chief of Administrative Services.
Major Patalano’s previous assignments include having served as the Commander of the Office of Professional Standards Division, Inspectional Services Division, Patrol Division, Planning and Research Division and Training Division. Major Patalano has also served as a supervisor in the Detective Division as well as an undercover investigator in the Special Investigations Unit.
He has also served as the department’s Accreditation Manager leading to the successful reaccreditation by the prestigious Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). He has previously served as an FBI Certified Firearms Instructor, Rhode Island Municipal Police Training Academy Instructor and as the Department’s Civil Rights Officer, amongst numerous other assignments.
Major Patalano holds a Master of Science Degree from Roger Williams University School of Justice Studies- Executive Law Enforcement program and a Bachelor of Science Degree from Roger Williams University – Administration of Justice program. He is also a graduate of the Command Training Series for Executive Development from Roger Williams University.
Major Robert Quirk
Major Robert Quirk has been a member of the Cranston Police Department since 1986. He currently serves as the Executive Officer within the department since 2014. He is responsible for the supervision and the control of Department members assigned to operational functions through the appropriate Division Commander.
Major Quirk’s previous commands include
Uniform Division Commander, Assistant Commander/Office of Professional Standards, Assistant Detective Division Commander and Bureau of Criminal Identification Supervisor.
Major Quirk holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Roger Williams University. He is also a graduate of the Law Enforcement Development School sponsored by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Command Training Executive Development Course sponsored by Roger Williams University.
Captain Gerard Carnevale
Captain Gerard Carnevale has been a member of the Cranston Police Department since 1993. He currently serves as the Night Commanding Officer of the Uniform Division. The division consists of the Three Patrol Officer’s shifts, The Traffic Division, The Communications Division (Dispatch), The School Resource Officers and the Animal Control Officers.
He has dedicated his whole career to the Patrol Division working his way up to Captain in 2009.
Captain Carnevale has served as Sniper Team Leader and Co-Commander of the Special Reaction Team. He also served and the Head of the Honor Guard and is still an active on the team. Captain Carnevale also served as a Defensive Tactics Instructor and a Range Officer/Shooting Instructor. Captain Carnevale has a Bachelor of Science Degree from Bryant University. He is a graduate of the Roger Williams University Justice System Training and Research Institute for the Command Development Series courses. These courses include the First Line Supervisors, Mid-Management course and the Executive Development Course.
Captain Carl R. Ricci Jr.
Captain Carl R. Ricci Jr. has been a member of the Cranston Police Department since 1993. He currently serves as the commander of the Inspectional Services Division. In this current position, he is responsible for all facets of National Accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) as well as State Accreditation through the Rhode Island Police Accreditation Coalition (RIPAC).
Captain Ricci is also responsible for the administration of all Human Resources concerns within the police department as well as overseeing the Records, Radio Communications, Finance, Detail and NIBRS Compliance-Units.
Captain Ricci’s previous commands include the Office of Professional Standards, Detective Division, and Training Division where he was the departments lead firearms instructor. He has served in a supervisory capacity in the Patrol Division, Staff & Services Division, and the Prosecution Unit. Captain Ricci is a 2012 graduate of Roger Williams University’s Justice Institute Executive Development Program. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Justice Studies from Rhode Island College.
Captain Vincent M. McAteer III
Captain Vincent M. McAteer III has been a member of the Cranston Police Department since 1996. He serves as the commander of the Detective Division. Previously he was commander of the Office of Community Outreach, which is responsible for the strategic planning and establishment of intervention strategies and education programs to prevent crime throughout the city.
as well as the development of partnerships with individuals who live, work or otherwise have an interest in the community. Additionally, he has served as the Chairman of the department’s Awards Committee, the Department’s Civil Rights Officer, and on the Long Term Planning Committee. He has previously served in supervisory capacity in the Office of Professional Standards, Inspectional Services Division, Traffic Unit, and the Uniformed Patrol Division. Captain McAteer also serves as an Adjunct Instructor at the Rhode Island Municipal Police Training Academy.
Captain McAteer is a 2011 graduate of the Police Executive Research Forum Senior Management Institute for Police – Session 48. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Salve Regina University and a Master of Science from Anna Maria College. Additionally, Captain McAteer is a member of the Lamba II – Class of 2015, at Leadership Rhode Island.
Captain Sean Parker, J.D.
Captain Sean Parker has been a member of the Cranston Police Department since 2003. Prior to joining the Cranston Police Department he served over two years with the North Kingstown Police Department. He served as the commander of the Office of Professional Standards, which investigates misconduct among sworn and civilian members. He also serves as the Commander of Information Technology within the department, and, given his legal background, also assists with legal issues within the city and department.
Captain Parker is currently assigned as the Captain in the Office of Professional Standards, and his other assignments include being the Commander of the Underwater Recover Team, as well as the department’s fleet manager. Captain Parker’s past assignments include serving as a Lieutenant and Sergeant in patrol, being a member of the Special Reaction Team for over 10 years, a prior team commander of the Mountain Bike Unit, a prior coordinator of the department’s Field Training Program, and a temporary assignment in the department’s prosecution unit.
Captain Parker received his Bachelor of Science degree from Western New England College, and his Juris Doctor degree from the New England School of Law in Boston.
Captain Justin Dutra
Captain Justin Dutra has been a member of the Cranston Police Department since 2001. Prior to joining the Cranston Police Department, he served over two years with the Scituate Police Department.
Captain Dutra currently serves as the Community Outreach/Special Projects Division Commander. His division is responsible for various police department outreach initiatives, crime prevention programs, crisis intervention response, police explorers, constituent affairs liaison with city hall, and all other projects and initiatives tasked by the Chief of Police. Captain Dutra also serves as the Special Reaction Team NTOA certified team commander which he has been a member for twenty years, police academy tactical instructor, and member of the department’s Honor Guard Team. His previous assignments include Lieutenant and Sergeant within the patrol division, Detective Lieutenant division commander, and Special Projects Lieutenant.
Captain Dutra is a 2001 graduate of the University of Rhode Island with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a minor in Psychology. He is a graduate of the Roger Williams University Justice System Training and Research Institute Command Training Series for First Line and Mid-Management Supervisors.