Crime & Safety

Seekonk Police Walk in Memory of Fallen Officers

The Seekonk Police Department along with dozens of other departments in the Bay State, Rhode Island and Connecticut took part in the annual Aquidneck Island Police Parade.

Seekonk Police officers made a showing at the annual Aquidneck Island Police Parade held in Newport. The event is held each year to honor police officers who have died in the line of duty.

The parade, first formed in East Providence on a small scale, is now held each year in Newport during the month of May. On Sunday, more than 1,000 adults and children lined the streets in Middletown and Newport to support local and state police officers in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York who were walking in the annual parade.

A moment of silence was held for fallen officers, including Woburn police officer John Maguire, 60, a husband and father of three who was shot and killed by an alleged armed robber. Maguire, who was shot four times, was nearing his retirement when he was killed.

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Family members and brothers of Connecticut State Police Trooper Kenneth Hall bowed their heads in remembrance of Hall, a 22-year veteran, who died Thursday, Sept. 2, while in his cruiser on Interstate 91. Hall was sitting in his cruiser writing out a ticket when a truck slammed into his police cruiser.

Danbury police officer Donald Hassiak, 41, was also remembered. Hassiack was killed on Thursday, June 3, 2010, while riding his bike to work. Also honored in Sunday's memorial parade were: Massachusetts State Police Trooper Weddleton Shelton, Police Officer Orville Smith, New Jersey State Trooper Mark Castellano,  Atlantic City Police Officer Kevin B. Wilkins, Metropolitan Police Officer Paul Dittamo, Holyoke Police Sgt. David Zolendziewski, and Teaneck Police Officer John Abraham Jr.

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"It doesn't hurt to remind the community that there is a daily threat to these officers' lives," Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Kilmartin said. "It's a fantastic honor for me as a former police officer to lead the memorial parade as grand marshal." Kilmartin, a former Pawtucket police captain, said he could not think of a better honor bestowed upon him. "The best part of this event is that the community comes out to show their support for officers."

Scarlett Huck belted out a rendition of the "Star-Spangled Banner." Along with Rhode Island and Connecticut State Police, more than 30 local police departments, including Seekonk Police, Norton Police, Newton Police, North and South Kingstown Police and East Providence Police, walked the less than two-mile route. 

The United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon, who traveled from Washington, D.C. performed a silent drill in front of the Newport Police Deparment, which garnered several rounds of applause by spectators.


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