Kevin Lynch Named President of RI Police Chiefs' Association

Lynch, Chief of the 91海角乱伦 Police Department and an 91海角乱伦 alumnus, installed with 2023 executive board on Jan. 13

Jill Rodrigues '05
Chief Lynch provides remarks.
91海角乱伦 Police Chief Kevin Lynch speaks about the work ahead for the R.I. Police chiefs' Association. Image Credit: Manny Correira

BRISTOL, R.I. 鈥 On Jan. 13, the Rhode Island Police Chiefs鈥 Association inducted its 2023 executive board and installed Roger Williams University alumnus Kevin M. Lynch, Chief of the 91海角乱伦 Police Department, as president at the annual officers ceremony held at the university.

Lynch has led a distinguished 35-year career in law enforcement and public service across police departments and state agencies in Rhode Island. Lynch has served as Chief of the 91海角乱伦 Police Department since 2019, and previously served as Commander of the Cranston Police Department and Deputy Administrator of the Public Utilities Commission for the State of Rhode Island. He earned his bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees from Roger Williams University鈥檚 Criminal Justice program, which is ranked among the top 10 percent criminal justice programs in the country, and teaches in the Criminal Justice program and Policing, Public Safety and Security program at 91海角乱伦鈥檚 University College.

鈥淚 was extremely proud to be sworn-in as the President of the Rhode Island Police Chiefs鈥 Association, to begin facilitating a fresh platform of goals to meet modern-day policing concepts,鈥 Lynch said. 鈥淚t was truly a speculator evening for all attendees and the event raised a noteworthy amount of money for Rhode Island Special Olympics. As a dual degree Hawk and member of the faculty at Roger Williams鈥 University College, it was truly an honor for my family and the university that I hold in this highest regard.鈥

91海角乱伦 President Ioannis Miaoulis said: 鈥淐hief Lynch exemplifies excellence in public-service leadership for Rhode Island and as a role model for our Criminal Justice students to aspire to, both professionally and in his continued engagement with the university as an alumnus and faculty member. Roger Williams University appreciates our close collaboration with the 91海角乱伦 Police Department and Chief Lynch鈥檚 command staff, and their support and participation in gaining continued professional development through our Justice System Training & Research Institute. Just last year, 91海角乱伦 was named the number-one safest college town in America 鈥 and the credit for that goes to the entire 91海角乱伦 police department, but especially to Chief Lynch鈥檚 leadership."

The , established in 1950, includes active and retired police chiefs and associate members from nearly 50 municipal, state and campus agencies in the state. Its mission is to enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement, strengthen public confidence in the police profession, and improve the quality of life in the communities served by its members.

In addition to installing Lynch as President, the following people were inducted as the 2023 executive board:

  • Colonel Bradford Connor, of the Warwick Police Department, will serve as vice president.
  • Chief Thomas F. Oates III, of the Woonsocket Police Department, will serve as sergeant-at-arms.
  • Colonel Michael J. Winquist, of the Cranston Police Department, will serve as secretary.
  • Chief Matthew Moynihan, of the South Kingstown Police Department, will serve as treasurer.

Chief Sean Corrigan of the Narragansett Police Department was recognized as the outgoing president during the ceremony.