RI State Grange Names WPD’s Lombardi ‘Officer of the Year’

Warwick, RI – Warwick Police Officer Steve Lombardi, named ‘Officer of the Year’ by the RI State Grange for his work leading RI’s Solemn Task Force in monitoring registered sex offenders, accepted the award on a humble note.

“It’s not about us. It’s about the victims,” Lombardi said during the RI State Grange’s 129th Annual Session at The Raddisson Hotel on Post Road Thursday afternoon after accepting the award for his service with the US Marshals Office’s task force, including leading and training fellow officers state-wide. 

“I feel much more comfortable getting up here and talking about keeping your kids safe,” Lombardi said.

Fellow police and members of the RI State Grange were more than willing to praise the officer, whose work on the task force has earned him the unofficial title, “commander” among his fellow Solemn officers.

“It’s natural leadership. That’s what it is,” said Walter Hartley, RI State Grange Steward.

Lombardi’s name sprang immediately to mind when he was asked to nominate an officer for the organziation’s annual honor, Hartley said. The Grange’s Officer of the Year Award is given to officers who stand out in their service to the community over and above their regular duties, he said.

“The task force, headed by the US Marshal’s office, keeps track and tabs on all of RI’s sex offenders. I’ve seen Steve and the task force in action — they really do keep these offenders on their toes,” wrote Lt. Joe Hopkins on the WPD’s Facebook page.

“He’s like the spearhead for all the local police officers who are in it,” Hopkins said at the Radisson Thursday, noting again the work is in addition to the officer’s regular duty.

“It’s a lot of work. It’s exhausting,” Hopkins said.

Hopkins said Lombardi shows an ideal range of compassion and toughness in his work as he interacts with children and adults, easily adjusting his manner to sooth a crying child or to confront a hostile husband.

“But also on the other side he’s so technically sound, street smart and obviously very physically capable,” Hopkins said.

Hartley noted officers state-wide were in the running for the Officer of the Year award. He said the honor is a positive sign as national attention is routinely focused on tension between police forces and the public they’re charged to protect and serve.

“It’s an honor for the department as a whole,” Hartley said.