Update: RI state police academy begins
1:56 PM Mon, Jun 22, 2009 | Permalink
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FOSTER, R.I. -- For 37 men and women from Rhode Island and Massachusetts, this drizzly morning was the end of their former lives, and, possibly, the beginning of a new career by December. As the 2009 class of the Rhode Island State Police Training Academy began Monday morning, the new recruits were ordered into a run down the academy's roadway -- trotting in business suits and clutching duffel bags filled with their personal things, as academy leaders shouted at them to keep moving. They filed into four rows in front of the academy classroom building, staring straight ahead in the rain, as Col. Brendan P. Doherty, his top commanders, and the academy's leaders lined up along the walkway and faced them silently. The recruits include former officers in the military and local police departments, four women and 10 members of minority groups. Out of 1,923 applicants, "you 37 are characterized as the cream of the crop," the academy's commandant, Lt. Ernest C. Quarry Jr., said to them. "That was yesterday's news." To be a Rhode Island state trooper, Quarry said, they will need to possess three things: "A good attitude, the desire to be a trooper, and number 3 -- What is it, Mulcahy?" "Sir, heart, sir," responded recruit Courtney E. Mulcahy, of Dalton, Mass. "A whole lot of heart!" Quarry boomed. "That's the only thing going to get you through this training academy." (An earlier version of this report was posted at 12:41 p.m.)
The last academy was in 2005. The ranks have been thinning; under state law, all troopers, except for the superintendent, are mandated to retire after 25 years. This class is expected to bring the state police up to the full complement of 220 troopers. If all of the recruits make it to the graduation in November. The academy is rigorous, physically and mentally challenging. It's not uncommon for 4 to 10 recruits to drop out, Doherty said later. It's the first academy under Doherty as superintendent. He said his "stamp" on the 2009 class is to hold the the academy's tradition of discipline. "The esprit de corps of the state police all starts here," Doherty said later. "We believe the paramilitary culture starts right here." The residents of Rhode Island hold the state police to a high standard, Doherty said. "We hold troopers to a high standard, and each other to high standards." The academy recruits from Rhode Island are: John Brown, of Coventry; Matthew J. Burke, of North Kingstown; Andrew L. Carter, of Narragansett; James R. Donnelly-Taylor, of Warwick; Kyle A. Draper, of Warwick; Jonathan M. Elliott, of Warren; Andrew R. Emerson, of Providence; Louis J. Fiorenzano, of Providence; James E. Gaffney, of Warwick; Melissa A. Giardina, of Wyoming; Kyle A. Gorenski, of Narragansett; David R. Gosling, of East Greenwich; Ruth C. Hernandez, of Providence; Adam J. Houston, of East Greenwich; Coty Jeudy, of East Providence; Adam B. Kennett, of East Greenwich; Daniel M. Lankowsky, of Harrisville; Ryan N. Mahoney, of Narragansett; Kenneth J. Marandola, of North Providence; Robert B. Marchand, of South Kingstown; Christopher V. O'Connors, of North Kingstown; Orlando Ortiz, of Johnston; Brendan D. Palmer, of East Greenwich; Sean F. Pasley, of Warwick; Donald Pope, of Providence; Ryan M. Santo; Kyle K. Shibley, of West Warwick; Lisa M. Silveira, of Middletown; Dorian R. Rave, of Woonsocket; James M. Thomas III, of Warwick; Stephen W. Vinton, of West Warwick; and Anthony S. Washington, of Providence. The recruits from Massachusetts are: Dwayne Correia, of Raynham; Sean M. Crowley, of East Dennis; Amonico A. Dacruz, of Fall River; Nicholas J. Messinger, of Norton, and Courtney E. Mulcahy, of Dalton. 
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GREAT...RI Unemployment at 12% and we have a woman from Massachusetts in the ranks. We couldn't find 37 Rhode Islanders capable of becoming State Troopers?
GEEZ
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I would have thought that the third thing you needed to possess would be a connected relative.
Every time I see a list of names such as these in a state or municipal roll call, there is a marked difference between the ethnicity of the in crowd and their respective demographic representation according to the last census.
For example, French comprise 17.3% of the state's population, which would mean that there should be around 6 French; there are 2. Italians are 19%, so there should be 7; there are 2. Most of the names appear to be English or Irish.
I also notice that only 3 RI candidates hail from north of Providence.
It's a real stretch for me to believe that these recruits were selected because they were overwhelmingly the 'cream of the crop', that cronyism doesn't still trump talent.
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I think before you two go rattling off a the mouth, why don't you understand the process. You have a written test, a physical test, a BCI check and an oral interview. These are the people that made it through and also an Alternate list is compiled for recruits that drop out. The test isn't biased towards relatives or only Rhode Islanders, it's a list of people that passed muster at all levels. Everyone has a chance to pass these test and interviews if they don't, well then they don't belong on RI State Police. It's clear you two would never make it. I mean really, you had to single out a woman from Massachusetts, what does that have to do with the process? There were men on that list from MA as well. Bigot.
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Yeah..the cream of the crop. They sit on highways and give tickets, don't go to calls for service other than accidents, and make 100K a year thanks to overtime and details.
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Sounds like some sour grapes... Perhaps some folks that didn't make the cut in previous academy classes? By the way, how do you know the ethnicity of a person based solely on a last name? Get a clue.
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Good time to start pension reform !
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Apparently those people commenting on this post don't realize the hard work and the intense scrutiny that goes into selecting canidates for the State Police. It is not just going through a list of names and picking. These people have proven themselves, and the fact that a few women made it should be celebrated not knocked.
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10 troopers kids, 2 are grandchildren of the last Governor minorities and women, real cream of the crop. sure you have to pass all the tests but after that its a diff. story. Sad that the state pays for this and doesn't really get the best of the best. Two of the are 18 years old -really-
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Congrats to all of the recruits. You deserve to be where you are and will make fine State Troopers. Good luck to RMS.
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I agree with not impressed. Yes you do have to pass the test but after that...it's about who you know. They can keep on stressing that this group is the "cream of the crop" but we all know it's complete bs. There are other candidates that are much more qualified but they don't have anyone to push their name towards the top of the list. So please, stop saying that they're the best of the best to try and justify the unfairness in the recruiting process.
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14 or more troopers kids/relatives tried to make it to the academy, 3 made the actual candidate list. Approx 1 year and 6 month process including written, physical, oral, bbackground, physcological exam, and a 22 week academy, which is one of the most mentally and physically challenging in the nation. Bottom line, even if someone knows your "name" you have to do it yourself, and you have to want it. There were 37 recruits selected, 2000 applicants, your trying to tell yourself that those 19 some odd hundred people didnt "know" anyone in the state. If you live in Rhode Island someone always knows someone that knows someone else. Your reasoning is plain and simple.. ignorance. cream of the crop, yes they are, prior municiple police officers, graduates from West Point and Norwhich University, marines, prior military, and recruits with many college degrees, O and fyi there are no 18 year olds, there is one 19 and the closest one to that is 21 or 22 years of age in the academy. i have no reason to believe that these 37 recruits will fall anywhere short of the best.
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