Thank you to Sgt. Jim Ignasher (Retired) who provided much of the following page content.
Two oval shaped badges worn about the time of the Civil War.
A generic police badge with "Cranston, R.I." added - circa 1870
John Kenyon - Town Sergeant 1873
The Town Sergeant wore badge number one since he was in charge of all police constables in Cranston.
Cranston's first Chief of Police John Bigbee - Elected 1886
Cranston Police Officers - 1898
A postcard view of the Cranston Town Hall - circa 1900. It was later the police station.
In 1911, the Cranston Police Department became the first in Rhode Island to use an automobile to patrol the city. This is a Ford Model T.
In 1916, the department purchased its first motorcycle at a cost of $200.00.
