There’s a new sheriff in Rhode Island, but he comes armed with a quarter-century of high-ranking law enforcement experience.
Paul M. Martellini – a Providence native and graduate of La Salle Academy, the Community College of Rhode Island and Roger Williams University – recently resigned his post as North Providence police chief and was sworn in as second-in-command under Chief Sheriff Dave DeCesare at the Rhode Island Division of Sheriffs.
Martellini said he had to make a hard choice after completely reorganizing the once-troubled North Providence department, of which he took the reins in 2011.
“I loved every minute of my 23 years with the North Providence police,” said Martellini, who lives in Johnston and whose son, Gian, is one of the top college baseball prospects in the country. “It was a difficult decision whether to leave or not. First and foremost, this is a great department. However, the sheriffs also have a great history.”
Perhaps more importantly, Martellini – who began his career in 1991 as a patrol officer with the East Greenwich Police Department – said he has a “great relationship” with DeCesare, who also has a long history in law enforcement.
And Martellini and DeCesare, they’ll quickly note, share a common bond and similar stories of how they left their former positions.
DeCesare, you see, was the highly respected deputy chief of the Johnston Police Department and a native Johnstonian, and is also a recent Johnston High School Athletic Hall of Fame inductee.
Needless to say, DeCesare and Martellini became friends through their work with the Johnston and North Providence departments, where they both wore many different hats – and enjoyed a number of promotions and successes through the years.
When the major’s position opened with the Division of Sheriffs, Martellini decided to apply for the post. But he again reiterated that the decision was not easy, particularly given his recent role in stabilizing the North Providence department.
“There was a long history of problems in the department,” he said. “Mayor [Charles] Lombardi asked me to take over and straighten it out.”
It wasn’t an easy task. He had to restore the public’s trust in the department and rebuild morale among the ranks.
“I went to public forums,” he said. “We established the National Night Out … we had other pro-active community events and basically worked tirelessly to get back with the public trust.”
People who know Martellini – who along with his wife Gina and children Gian and Alessandra has lived in Johnston for over 15 years – said he is well known for helping people and giving back to the community.
“It was always something positive for me,” Martellini said. “Community service means a lot to me. I enjoyed working for the town … it was always something positive for me.”
Martellini has always been very involved in community events. He has coached youth baseball and the NEAAU Travel program for nine years, and is an executive board member of the Johnston Youth Sports Program.
Perhaps Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena, who was a guest speaker at the retirement reception, said it best about Martellini leaving for the sheriff’s post.
“First of all, we’re proud of Paul for his many, many great accomplishments,” Polisena said. “He’s one of our own Johnston residents. Simply put, North Providence’s loss is the Rhode Island sheriffs department’s gain. And we certainly wish Paul all the very best, always.”
“Paul Martellini has been a great police chief,” Lombardi said. “We all love him and hate to see him leave. He served us well, and for that we thank him. For me, Paul will always be a friend, no matter what department badge he wears.”
Johnston Police Chief Richard S. Tamburini, who worked side-by-side with Martellini during his tenure in town, offered: “I’m sure the chief sheriff is grateful to have a person like Paul on his team. In my personal opinion, he’s one of the finest police officers that North Providence has ever produced. He was an exceptional chief and is an extraordinary person. I wish him all the best.”
DeCesare added: “Needless to say, Christmas came early for me … Maj. Martellini comes to the Division [of Sheriffs] with decades worth of experience and a proven record of accomplishments and successes. He is admired and praised by his peers in law enforcement and will continue to have success and inspire those he oversees … He is a man of great character and integrity and has been battle tested with the myriad of issues he has encounter through the course of his career.”
DeCesare then paused briefly before adding: “Paul is a consummate professional who will always put the needs and concerns of the Division ahead of his own. He will be vital to the continued progress of the Division of Sheriffs … I look forward to working along side Paul, and know I will benefit personally and professional from his appointment.”
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