History

Each year the second week in May is set aside to honor Policemen throughout the nation, past and present. This week is known as National Police Week.

In the mid 1960’s, the concept of a National Police Week Parade was formed in East Providence, RI. This parade, sponsored by the local Fraternal Order of Police Lodge, was held on a smaller scale for five years. It was discontinued for two years and the idea was revived, this time in Newport.

Patrolmen Charles Cabral and Detective John Connell first brought the idea up at a Fraternal Order of Police meeting in the Fall of 1973. With the sanction to go further by the local F.O.P. Lodge, these two men increased their committee, adding more members from Newport, then Middletown and Portsmouth.

As the committee expanded, so did the concept of the Parade. The committee began working on doing something to aid the faltering economy of Aquidneck Island. We felt that if we brought back a gigantic event to the Island, it could attract thousands of people from off the Island. This was our hope, a way to bring people to an Island whose major industry was tourism. We felt that this parade would “kick off” the tourist season in May and give people a good look at our Island in the full bloom of Spring.

Officer Cabral chaired the Parade, which was incorporated as “The Aquidneck Island Police Parade”, for 1974 and in 1975. The chairmanship was shared by Edmund E. Sullivan, Timothy Sant, Robert Kent and Paul Rogers, jointly. In 1976, Officer Edmund E. Sullivan was elected Chairman of the Parade and remained as chairman until 1977. The remainder of the committee have been members since the inception of the Parade, and in 1977 two R.I. State Troopers from the Portmouth Barracks, have been added.

From the first year’s parade, which included 20 musical units, to this year’s parade, which will include 35 musical units, the parade remains of the largest events on Aquidneck Island. It is considered one of the largest Parades held in the entire state. The parade remains further unique as it is the only one known of its kind in the United States. This year, Police Officers will attend from nine separate states, the furthest being from Illinois State Police.

The parade has been a huge success to date and we hope that it will remain a permanent event in the future and continue to please the thousands of tourists and the people of the Island who continue to support it both financially and physically.