'He makes us proud'

For the second time in four months, Johnston Police Chief Richard S. Tamburini was honored with what Gary S. Miville called a “very, very prestigious award” last Thursday evening inside the Airport Radisson Hotel in Warwick.

Tamburini was the special honoree at the Providence Chapter ASIS (American Society for Industrial Security) International Public Safety Awards Dinner, which honors individuals in recognition of outstanding public service to the community.

More than 100 people turned out for the awards program and buffet dinner, the highlight of which was Tamburini receiving the Providence ASIS Chapter’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

“This is a great honor, a prestigious honor for Chief Tamburini,” said Miville, a native of Glastonbury, Conn., who now lives in Warwick and is the ASIS Providence Chapter council chairman and regional vice president of RIBI Security. “It’s a prestigious award for a lifetime of great work in the security field.”

Tamburini – who people like Miville, Senior Regional Vice President and Women and Infants Director of Security Robert E. Johnson and Events Chairman Hank Tyszkowski of Diebold Inc. all said was a great candidate for the award – is closing in on a half century as a law enforcement officer.

Back in June, Tamburini – whose career spans 49 years – was inducted into the Rhode Island Criminal Justice Hall of Fame.

“I’m honored to be here for Chief Tamburini,” Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena told those gathered. “He is without question well deserving of such a prestigious award. His record of nearly 50 years of law enforcement really outshines anybody else.”

Polisena, who was also invited to the dinner as a special guest speaker, went on: “Most importantly, Chief Tamburini never forgot where he came from, those humble beginnings. I’m very lucky to have him as my police chief. It’s an honor to speak on his behalf. He makes us proud. His passion to protect the citizens of town is unmatched by anyone else.”

“What a pleasure to receive approval from my honored colleagues,” Tamburini said. “Thank you to everyone who made this possible. You have made me feel very special.”

Tamburini thanked Polisena, Cranston Mayor Allan Fung, Johnston Maj. Joseph Razza and his command staff, and emphasized: “With gratitude, I want to acknowledge IBPO President James Brad and his executive board. I would first like to thank all involved at the American Society for Industrial Security for this great honor. I am extremely humbled by this award and earnestly grateful for this recognition by the Providence Chapter of ASIS and its Public Safety Awards Committee.”

Miville said that “anybody in the security field belongs to ASIS International,” which is the largest security organization in the world with 38,000 members.

Locally, the Providence Chapter has been holding its awards dinner for many years and has approximately 90-plus members. The group’s executive committee selects those who Miville describes as “the best of the best for all our awards.”

Miville then added: “We also select people who go over and above in the security field.”

This year, the group gave Public Safety Officers of the Year awards to Jermaine Woods of the Providence Fire Department and Sgt. Philip Gingerella of the Charlestown Police.

Providence Police Chief Col. Hugh T. Clements Jr. was also honored in connection with his department’s 150th anniversary.

Likewise, the ASIS Providence Chapter presents scholarships to those students who have expressed an interest in a career in the security field and are studying such areas in college.

“We gave away $5,000 in scholarships tonight,” Miville said. “It’s great to support our youth who aspire to be in the security field.”

He then congratulated Woonsocket High graduates Samantha Berube (CCRI) and Joshua Brown (RIC), and Toll Gate graduate Max Lupovitz (CCRI) as this year’s recipients.

As for Johnston’s chief, he added during his acceptance speech: “Many have said that such an award could not have been achieved alone. Never more is such a statement true as with me. I truly stand on the shoulders of many men and women who have worn the uniform ... from my first desk sergeant that had me walking the beat in South Providence to the many detectives and chiefs who have served as role models for me.”

The chief then added: “Tonight’s ceremony is a tradition worth celebrating. It clearly shows that ASIS International believes in Rhode Island law enforcement’s ability to perform at the highest grade. It is a recognition and appreciation of Rhode Island law enforcement professionals.

“I have nothing but tremendous admiration and respect for former recipients of the ASIS Lifetime Achievement Award and it is a complete honor to have my name and career associated with theirs. This is certainly one of life’s full circle moments for me ... I just can’t believe it has been 49 years.”