Cranston Police Department Reviews

Very poor experience with the Cranston Police Department but I can sadly say I am not surprised in any way, shape or form. The woman at the front desk is ignorant, rude + dismissive rather than patient, helpful + insightful. I continued to ask questions as she continued to answer phone calls, shake her head at me and ignore me. I was seeking help regarding a pothole claim that the RIDOT referred me to the Cranston Police Department on for a police report. So, if neither the RIDOT nor the Cranston Police Department can help me, than remind me what either of their jobs is other than waste RI residents time (and money). I do enjoy seeing 1.5 stars for the PD's Google reviews though, like I said it's no surprise.

Called at 1:20AM, great response rate and handled situation.

If you see 516.....run.....
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Very disappointed to see the video in which the demeanor and unprofessional behavior of your Officer Andrea Comella Smith (Badge #516) was exhibited. I hope you either terminate these types of disrespecting Police Officers or educate them on public photography, respecting the public and the Constitution of the United States. In my humble opinion this type of unethical, malicious behavior toward the general public gives good Police Officers a bad reputation and could cause them undo harm or danger. Hope you correct the problem. Thank you.

This has to be the best department on the planet as long as you don t want to exercise your Constitutional Rights. Photographers, tourists, or anyone with a camera best beware. Taking pictures will get you arrested. Please make sure that when you visit Cranston you are not to exercise your rights. If you do, you will get a nice set of bracelets and a ride to the city jail.

Members of the public, including the press, have a First Amendment right to observe, take photographs and record video in any public place where they are lawfully present. Photography and the recording of video are common activities and are neither crimes nor indications of criminal activity,in themselves. Neither photography nor the recording of video, standing alone, can form the basis for a detention, arrest, or warrant-less search.

Ever Tyrant thug is this police department is corrupt.

Everyone helped out wonderfully service is awesome. Detectives are great. Also the inspector. All gave me advice i needed and was more than happy to help me

this dept has some bad police. their tyrants. look at video on youtube labeled audit america. woman police goes from 0 to 100 very quick.she disregaurds the us constitution and violites this man rights. bad police force. then cops always wonder why they are targets. good cops should stop bad cops when they are being tyrants.

I've lived in Cranston for 18 years. We've had nothing but positive experiences with them. From public events to FAST response times, they've always been helpful. We also love Zeus and his partner! Thank you for keeping us safe!

Officer Comella is more than willing to violate the first amendment rights of, and assault, those who try to assert their constitutional rights, that s for certain. But the real problem in this department is Chief Winquist, who jumped at the chance to defend Comella, and not hold her accountable. There are bad cops like Comella all over, just as there are bad women, bad men, bad teachers, bad everything. But those bad apples should be held accountable, and failures like Chief Winquist are actually responsible for the poor perceptions people have of the police.

Under trained officers and bullies are hired here. Seems they can't understand basic civil rights.

I called them when I got jumpped. They assumed I was in a fight. Less paperwork for them I suppose. Well after they didn't help me with that a few months later the same kids tried to break a window in my car. Again they came and did absolutly nothing. Always ready to hand out tickets on the 5 lane atwood ave with a 35 mph speed limit.

A bit of advice to the scumbums that complain about the cops. Stop breaking the law knuckleheads.

Completely disgraceful actions of the officers arresting public photographers and making up false charges we know who the real criminals are !

Firstly, I am pro law enforcement. This means the good cops. The bad cops just ruin every step forward the good cops make. I know we are all human and people make mistakes. This got out of hand really fast as it appeared Comella's ego was in play and might have gotten bruised. With her being a minority, maybe she may feel like it is harder for her to gain respect but this is not the correct way to achieve it. I know all about the blue line but the other officers present condoning her behavior is unacceptable. The Chief of Police here is completely In the wrong. The citizens of Cranston should never stand for such egregious behavior from the Chief.
Listen should 516 lose her job, maybe not. But there should absolutely be accountability here. She should make a public apology as well as a written apology to the man that she deprived of his rights. That's the minimum. The chief should resign as he just condones reprehensible behavior by praising it. How are the officers under his command supposed to learn and grow? These steps would be a move in the right direction in order to start the process of regaining the trust of the people, the citizens.

But the best way for this jurisdiction to learn is through a lawsuit because they will absolutely lose this case when it goes beyond the local court.

Watch the YouTube video on these low life bottom feeders... I will never ever in a million years ever visit or spend my money as a tourist in this place ...these people are evil. Stay away from this place and if you live there I'd be complaining about there behavior...or move away..

Where is the zero start rating
Officer 516 needs to be educated and released from this department.
She is a disgrace to the policing community along with the other officers that were with her.
Disgusting.

Why did you delete my post andera (516) is a crooked cop. put my post back up

I bet your whole department has the First Amendment memorized by now can't believe you arrested that guy for disorderly he did absolutely nothing wrong. We are watching !

They do not respect the First Amendment of the United States of America. Law abiding citizen's are not safe with Cranston Police. Their behavior is nothing short of thuggish.

Very upsetting to watch your officer violate the rights of an innocent citizen. You can do better. Please take corrective actions.

bring some vasoline to use while the untrained, unprofessional, and self-righteous police gang bend you over their cruisers.

rookie cop comella, badge #516, displays a power-hungry, menstral cycle driven way to mingle with it's residents/ tourists. her camplete lack of citizen empathy and underlying hate of our constitution shows that she and the other 3 cops are trained by a higher more il-informed chief who, like her, share in incompetence at the highest level.

if you want visit cranston know that the men in blue, including comella, will violate your rights, drum up false accusations and haul your a-- to jail. they do have one good trait......... sticking up for one another while pissing on the constitution of this great land.

Officer Badge #516 needs to be fired. What a careless lack of knowledge of the law, and you expect people like this to protect our communities.

Was watching YouTube video, how PD disrespecting our Constitution and our rights. Unbelievable it happen in our country. Shame on you.

Call as a citizen to report something and they act like you are the criminal. Rude. Whatever happened to the big "cops and coffee", "get the citizens and the police together" campaign to help with public relations? These cops need a course in how to be polite when you get a call from a citizen who is paying your salary.

Filming on a public sidewalk is a constitutional protected right

They have no understanding 9f constitutional law. The officers all expect you to lick their boots or get arrested.

THE MOST CORRUPTED POLICE DEPARTMENT IN RHODE ISLAND. BE AWARE OF OFFICER 516 If You Like Your Freedom!!!! SHES WILLING TO TAKE IT !

PS.
ANDREA... on our way to jail , i clearly remember telling you , YOUR CORRUPTION towards me would make you famous !! look at you now ,

YOURE A YOUTUBE STAR!!

OVER 2 MILLION VIEWS!!!

Dont say i didnt tell you!

Yes, I also saw the video. It s awful how police think they re above the law . I ve been to their Facebook page and they keep erasing comments. They think they can censorship our rights!

Filming in public is not a suspicious activity it's a constitutionally protected activity this is the USA

Outrageous behavior by this police department. Photography is not a crime and arresting a person for standing up for their constitutional rights is criminal. I will be contributing to the law suit.

Officer 516 TYRANT oath breakers. Officers who aided her are just as guilty. All need to be fired and and charged under 42 usc 1985, 18 usc 241 and 242.

Stay away if you love your American constitutional rights! Especially this one that probably got hired a couple of days ago with no proper training or education..

Officer commits numerous felonies in uniform, in broad daylight, and on video in the jurisdiction she "serves". Apparently, there is not one "good cop" in this department's employ to arrest and charge her, despite being duty-bound to do so.

Defending the actions of this police force is against everything America was built on.

I have attempted to reach BCI to get my weapons back because of a domestic disorderly... By law they take your weapons. I'm fine with that. But I have called multiple times and have attempted to obtain my weapons and I get either a voicemail or someone who doesn't know what the hell is going on. Charge shows cleared on my public record for over 3 months! Very glad I moved out of Cranston. ....still waiting to hear back from someone in BCI.

Appalling display of ignorance regarding officer 516's procedure in response to a " suspicious person " called in. Citizens rights to walk down the street and not be harrassed by law officials are protected in this country under US 1st amendment, but obviously NOT in Cranston Rhode Island. I feel this is the tip of the iceberg in this backward town.

Cheif Winquist should be ashamed to defend the actions of people within his department like officer Comella. I know officers are human and can make mistakes, but when they then double down and do the "thin blue line" thing it is unacceptable. Communities need to know they can trust their police force to enforce laws fairly and faithfully.

If I could give a 0 star rating for this department I would. This department is A disgrace to all the officers who actually risk their lives. They follow their own laws and not the ones they swore an oath to. Officer #516 should be removed from duty as she is not mentally fit to do her job.

I am absolutely appalled at the blatant disregard that Andrea Comella #516 displayed for Anselmo Morales rights. I hope a lawsuit is in your future.

Wow your officer badge number 516 is a real piece of work did she recieve any training at all? I can"t believe you let the lady carry a gun! She clearly has no understanding of the law, Oh well it will be on you when she finally has a complete break from reality and kills some poor unarmed person. The youtube video i just watched of her in action clearly shows her distane for the law and everything she swore to uphold and protect. So when you are sitting back wondering why the general public gives you NO RESPECT just play that youtube video and remind yourself how you have earned that level of hate and disrespect.

Most seem nice however my opinion changed after my home was broken into. Woke up to the window open, home torn to pieces and a few valuables (car keys, Apple Watch, and a few other belongings) stolen. Called the police and told them what I found when I woke up and what was missing. Cop asked if I was taking any medications . I cannot believe how disrespectful the officer who handled the situation was. Ended up being able to find the guy who broke in since my watch has GPS and the last thing I remember the officer saying was, Sorry about that but I actually thought you were crazy and needed to take your meds . Never been disrespected like this before! Teach your officers how to respectfully speak to someone who s coming to you for help.

Useless waste of taxpayer money pitiful they all are .

Michael J. Winquist the Chief of Police seems to lack control of his officers and let s them stop all over the constitution.

Thank you lord my tax money does not go to these tyrants hopefully one day we the people will wake up and take back our country...

OFFICER 516 HAS NO IDEA WHAT THE LAW IS AND THINKS SHE CAN ORDER PEOPLE TO DO THINGS THEY DON'T HAVE TO

The public has a first amendment right to the press the police station doesn't believe in the 1st amendment.

The First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America is under ATTACK in the City of Cranston RI, as seen on YouTube.
City of Cranston RI American's are watching, do the RIGHT thing.

I am appalled at the way officer/badge number 516 handled the situation. She escalated, made baseless threats and illegally detained a citizen who was practicing a completely legal act of taking photos of a public place on the sidewalk. I am pro law enforcement, but this officer has clearly broken the law and used her badge to ID a person that was doing nothing. wrong. Law enforcement is there for it's citizens to protect and honor the constitution. She clearly has an issue, needs sensitivity training and should read the law. You don't need to be a lawyer to know the law. She was the aggressor. In this day in age, Video does not lie. I hope she gets the help she needs. I want to be perfectly clear, I am pro law enforcement and thank our officers who keep us safe everyday, but the actions of this officer are not okay. Thank you.

Just saw the alarming video of Officer Andrea Comella Smith, and felt it was atrocious! It was extremely disturbing, and makes me question whether I can trust any police officer that I may come into contact in the future. Officer Smith should be fired! If she continues to be associated with the Cranston Police Department at Rhode Island, she will continue to be a blight on the department.

Worst police department I have ever been to. Cop gives so much attitude and has no respect. They told me an accident report would take 3-5 business days and it has been a month and it is still not ready. Don t know what is taking so long but this place is horrible

Total disregard for citizens rights. The whole lot should be in jail.

You need to educate your officers (especially officer badge # 516, squad car 199) that video taping in a public area isn't a crime. It's also a violation of a person's civil rights to reach into their pocket without their consent.

I found a purse on Cranston Street with money, diamond rings, bus passes and green card of a few family members. I decided to bring it to the police department. After several attempts calling them on their phone and nobody picked up I called directly on my cell and was yelled at by the dispatcher. He said that I could not have used the phone in the department because "he" would have picked up. I dropped the purse in the middle of the floor and walked out.

Officer 516 is a disgrace the badge! She is dangerous and a threat to public safety!

Paul Lewis, you've just won a stupidity prize.

5* prize.

Officer Andrea Comella Smith #516. Watch out people. This cop will ask you questions and not listen to your answers. Then she will claim your being disorderly and hindering her investigation because she doesn't like your answers.
It's called "contempt of cops." They arrest you for a trumped up charge and take you to jail. Charges are dismissed after the victim spends the night in jail, bails out and has to hire an attorney...
There are no reprecussions to the arresting officer.

I thought all sworn officers in the US had to take an oath to support and defend the constitution. I know I did as a veteran. Does badge number 516 even know the first amendment? How about the fourth and fifth amendment? Illegally detained, wouldn't provide her name, went hands on with a non-aggressive citizen that wasn't committing a crime. I'm pro-police but, unfortunately, this behavior causes mistrust for all other police . Finally, you call the victim's conduct "disorderly" and arrest him. That is irony defined.

I think you need to retrain this "person", she does'nt deserve to be called officer. But then again, the fish rots from the head down so i doubt anything will be done.

You deserve zero stars for your blatant disregard of the 1 job you have which is defending Our rights. You blew it when a female Cranston Island gang member detained a man for taking pictures in public from a public sidewalk. Wow, so sad & pathetic. Is this how you treat a tourist? Taking pictures in public because you deem a legal act is suspicious enough to harass a man for his ID. This sounds more like an action taken in North Korea, not in America, where We the People have a right to anonymity under the 4th Amendment. So in a nutshell I see your officer detained a man for simply taking pictures & will lead I hope, to a large payout in the upcoming lawsuit. We the people demand your officers be retrained upholding Our Rights. Photography Is Not A Crime.

Beware when traveling through Cranston RI. Their PD employs a female officer by the name of Andrea Comella Smith, who doesn't have the time of day for your constitutional rights. She's got quite the foul disposition, perhaps because her daddy was once the colonel of the Cranston PD.

How is it that you go to the Cranston Police Dept. after 4pm. and there is not a sole in there. You have to speak on a phone to get service, "if you get service". What about if I went in there injured or something urgent that I couldn't call 911. The Cranston Citizens pay enough taxes and this is how your police department is set up. HORRIBLE!!!!

I just watched the YouTube video and can t believe what just happened. How can an officer not know what the first amendment protects. The victim was recording on a public sidewalk. You can t trespass his eyes therefore you can t tell him in which direction he can t point his camera. I m very disturbed how to supervisor handled the situation. Instead of de-escalating the situation and apologizing for the officers mistake he decides to arrest the victim. This only shows younger officers that they can do what ever they want without having to follow the law.

I hope the department does something about this.

Deserves zero stars. But had to put at least one... What a waist of tax dollars. Home of the fee and land of the slave...

In regards to one of their female officers, I believe 516, I felt I needed this to be seen somewhere publicly in support of an amazing public safety worker which I happened to have an interaction with during a routine traffic stop. This officer was extremely kind , compassionate and made me feel safe. She offered for me to put my window up while she checked my info, as it was freezing that day, I was just so impressed with her composure and fairness. And as a female it was so appreciated and she seems just as beautiful inside as she is on the outside ! She is extremely brave to take on such a dangerous job, please respect this, we need more people like her defending our public safety, degrading her and resisting safety requests and then broadcasting and defaming her name is probably why most cops have no patience and come across aggressive and cold. Let s appreciate and support the good ones, such as her while we can and she still cares about the rights and welfare of all citizens

516 and her supervisor showed horrible behaviour. But I'm sure they will just settle this and throw tax payer money at it to make it go away. Cant just go around arresting people for nothing.

Chief of police (WINQUIST) of Cranston advocates his officers like (Andrea Comella Smith, Badge #516) to violate the civil rights of the people of Cranston and then defends the officers actions!
This is not what we want in our police depts in this country!
We the people need to stand up against tyrant police depts as this and fight against the police state and have this police dept be accountable for their illegal actions and face the same legal consequences as we commomwealth would face and absolutely... and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law!

Just watched the YouTube video of your tyrant officers. You guys are a disgrace to the public and the Constitution. You can't trespass a person's eyes and you need to educate your officer's. That clown uniform doesn't give you authority over a law abiding citizen.

A nice police officer showed up to help me. Some weirdo had a lighter and was flickering it outside my car window like a crazy person. Thank you police officers.

Officer 516 (never did Identify herself) and the rest of those thugs in that video should be fired. Her conduct was horrible. They think they have the power to violate rights just because of a phone call. Everyone in that town should start calling to report suspicious activity when people are mowing lawns.

Chief Winqiust and Officer Comella Smith/ tyrant 516 are in a sexual relationship obviously. Because he couldn't help but say her disgusting behavior was wonderfully appropriate. He knows she violated Morales Toress's rights and acted like a child who didn't get her way. She used her power to get vengeance on someone who didn't bow down to her. Comella Smith you are never gonna be trusted again. Think about it, a little girl needs help and she sees you coming and she remembers seeing you behave like an animal on YouTube. She's gonna be terrified and not wanna be protected by some evil woman with a power Trip. Your actions are putting children's life's in danger. I have children and I don't know how you continue to support that badge. Just quit and go work in private some where. If I was your Dad I would be so ashamed of your prideful manly behavior.

Honestly everyone we talked to was rude. Got hung up on multiple times

Horrible video of officer 516 on youtube. Why in the world would she swear an Oath , to later breack it. It was a horrible video , the WORST i have ever seen!!!.

Beware of the tyrannical police... Just YouTube Cranston police and see for yourself.

This dept is run by officers who do NOT care about citizens rights! They play cop politics like giving officers jobs bc of their daddy s affiliation w law enforcement, and abiding by their own laws not federal laws upheld by our constitution. Hopefully they will show citizens of their state & entire country they can do better, 1st & foremost by firing the female officer badge #516 for her unprofessional & unconstitutional behavior.

Have had nothing but respectful good encounters with everyone at this station.

Can you look into training your officers? There are videos available online.

Horrible place - I sent in a complaint for
Internal affairs of police illegality and I was blocked from the page. This was done due to chiefs orders.

Officer badge number 516 should be ashamed and the department should be ashamed of her actions. I CAN NOT believe I just watched a young mans rights get violated and then set up by 3 crooked cops for a disorderly conduct charge. There was only 1 out of 4 officers who identified themselves. I am a huge supporter of law enforcement and it s a complete shame your officers such as 516 conducted herself in that manor. It not only hurts the integrity of the department but that video going viral paints a picture for ALL law enforcements through the nation. It s a shame to the American people!!!! I sincerely hope female officer 516 receives some sort of diciplinary actions or better yet termination!!! I suggest IA takes a look at this department if nothing is done. Where is the ethics, integrity and honesty of this department? Please don t let this 1 officer put a cloud over the whole department! Do something!!!

This is the place where having a camera on public property, is disorderly conduct. Evidently the police there hate the constitution.

Comella- The most corrupt cop in RI. She has a constitution for nothing. Even her husband saw who she really is and he left her.