[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 174 (Monday, December 5, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S6707]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                     TRIBUTE TO VINCENT VESPIA, JR.

 Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, South Kingstown Police Chief 
Vincent Vespia, Jr., has dedicated his career to protecting and serving 
the people of Rhode Island. He retired this month after nearly 60 years 
of exceptional service.
  The State's longest serving police chief began his career in 1959 as 
a trooper with the Rhode Island State police. Chief Vespia would 
eventually go on to become a State police organized crime investigator. 
His work helped bring down New England's top organized crime family. 
There are many stories about Vin Vespia. One of the most famous was 
when he crashed through a second floor window of a Federal Hill crap 
game from a bucket of a cherry picker, brandishing a machine gun at the 
surprised dice players. As Pulitzer Prize winning author Mike Stanton 
wrote in his book ``The Prince of Providence,'' ``Vespia was a kick-ass 
cop who had grown up on the Hill, playing in the street with some of 
the wise guys he now pursued.'' As a young trooper, Vespia had busted a 
former playmate with a truckload of stolen furs. ``How can you arrest 
me?'' the man asked. ``We played kick the can together.'' Replied 
Vespia: ``You went one way, I went another.''
  After retiring from the State police, Vin was appointed chief of the 
South Kingstown Police Department in 1981. He would spend the next 35 
years of his career building an effective, professional force with 
strong ties to the community. He created new leadership programs within 
the department's detective bureau and oversaw the construction of an 
innovative public safety facility with state-of-the-art information 
technology.
  Chief Vespia will be remembered for his leadership and fairness. 
Those he led describe him as dedicated, rational, and respectable. He 
has been called ``probably the most admired law enforcement officer in 
Rhode Island.'' I was honored to have worked with him when I was 
attorney general and am proud to call him my friend. Chief Vespia's 57 
years of commitment and service to the people of Rhode Island represent 
the very best in law enforcement.
  I commend him and his family for the sacrifices they have made. On 
behalf of those he has served throughout the years, I offer my thanks. 
I wish Vin and Judith-Ann, his wife of 40 years, a happy retirement and 
the best of luck in all future endeavors.

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