By DONNA KENNY KIRWAN

PAWTUCKET — Although not quite a native son, after almost three decades on the Pawtucket Police Department, Major John J. Whiting feels like he's leaving home.

 On Nov. 16, the veteran officer will be sworn in as the new police chief of the neighboring city of North Providence.
North Providence Mayor Charles A. Lombardi announced on Tuesday that Whiting had been chosen from among a field of four finalists for the permanent post of police chief. He will succeed former Police Chief Ernest Spaziano as boss of the 77-member police department.
“What I was looking for was an individual that came with State Police stature along with municipal background and experience,” said Lombardi. “I wanted a chief who, when he walked into a room, would command respect, and people would stand at attention, and I feel that Major Whiting will do that,” he continued.
Whiting made the cut from an original field of 14 applicants, and Lombardi declined to name the other three finalists. He said he had “full confidence” in the professionalism of the search committee, which consisted of former State Police Col. Stephen Pare, former Cumberland Police Chief and current director of the Rhode Island Municipal Police Training Academy Anthony Silva and Lt. Thomas Verdi of the Providence Police Department.
Lombardi, who took over as mayor in April of 2007, acknowledged that there have been numerous problems in recent years with unprofessionalism and corruption on the department, including the high profile case involving veteran police Sgt. Michael Ciresi. He blamed most of the problems, however, on “political interference,” saying the police department was “contaminated with politics, and we need to be rid of this.”
See WHITING, Page A-2
Lombardi said that after Spaziano’s departure, he turned to the State Police for help, and State Police Lt. David Palmer was named acting chief for the past six months, while they searched for a replacement. Citing Whiting’s credentials, he called him “a cop’s cop,” and said, “In my opinion, he’s exactly what we need right now to lead our department forward.”
Lombardi also pledged to not let politics interfere with how Whiting runs the police department. “That’s not my style. Basically, I will hand him the keys and say, ‘You call me.” He added, “In my heart, I know he will be the police chief. He will not be a figurehead.”
Whiting said his departure from the Pawtucket Police Department is “very bittersweet,” noting that his swearing-in date falls just one week shy, to the day, of his 30th year with the force. “I have a lot of friendships here, a lot of relationships, “ he said, “But I’m looking forward to this new opportunity.”
Whiting said that being a police chief has always been one of his goals, and, with this in mind, he had been lately turning over more responsibilities to Detectives Lt. Daniel Mullen, whom he highly praised in his leadership of that division .
Whiting, who lives with his family in North Attleboro, said he was born in Centredale but grew up in Pawtucket, and lived there as a younger adult. He said there have been many memorable cases in his long career, and noted that North Providence, while about 40 percent smaller in population and with somewhat different demographics than Pawtucket, shares some similar urban crime problems. “And, it is a contiguous community,” he noted.
Since joining the Pawtucket Police Department in 1978 as a patrol officer, Whiting moved up through the ranks, attaining the promotion to major in January of 1999. He holds an associate’s degree in business management and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, both from Bryant College, and later obtained a law degree from the New England School of Law. In addition, Whiting has taken numerous courses and additional training related to his police work.
Pawtucket Police Chief George L. Kelley III, in his 35th year with the department, has known Whiting since his earliest days in the patrol division. He describes the major as “a good friend” as well as a highly qualified police professional.
“We’re sorry to lose him. He will be missed, but this is always something that he’s wanted to do,” said Kelley. He added that Whiting is well known among law enforcement professionals and will be a welcome asset to the Police Chiefs Association because of his involvement in many statewide police matters and crime issues.
Kelley said there are no immediate plans to name a replacement for Whiting, noting that numerous other departmental promotions would be involved in such a move. He added, however, that “a beat won’t be missed” with the officers who are in charge now of the various divisions that Whiting would oversee, including the detectives and special squad.