Prescott J. Williams, Jr., (SPD, Ret.) 86, passed away Saturday, June 7, 2014. He was the beloved husband of Joan C. (Thurber) Williams. Born in Providence and a lifelong resident of Smithfield, he was a son of the late Senator Prescott J. Williams and of the late Mabel K. (Knight) Williams.
Captain Williams was educated at St. Dunstans, Bryant College and Babson College. Served in the US Maritime Service and the US Army and was stationed on Okinawa.
Captain Williams had been affiliated with many local Civic Organizations, the Greenville Volunteer Fire Department, Balfour-Cole Post #64 American Legion, Charter Member of the Board of Canvassers of the Greenville Water district, past member of the Smithfield Town Committee, past Vice President of the Smithfield Democratic Club, Smithfield Highway Association, first elected Democratic Moderator in Voting District #1, past Secretary of the Smithfield Police Association, Charter Member of the Smithfield Lodge #17, Fraternal Order of Police and the last of the Charter members to retire also held offices of Secretary-Treasurer and Vice President of the Lodge for fifteen years, member of the commissioned Police Offers Association of Rhode Island, member Temple Lodge #18 F. & A.M. and a member of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, a 32nd degree mason.
Appointed a Reserve Police Officer in 1954 and served in an active capacity until May 1957 at which time he was appointed as a regular member of the Smithfield Police Department. After graduating from the Municipal Police Academy in August 1957 served as a Patrolman until March 1967 when he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and assigned to the midnight shift as Patrol Commander. Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in February 1974 and was transferred to the daytime shift as Patrol Commander. In June 1974 was promoted to the rank of Captain and served until his retirement in 1979. He later worked for 20 years as a hearing officer for the State of R.I. in financial responsibility.
Captain Williams had served in many capacities within the Smithfield Police Department, as Motor Vehicle Officer, Report Review Officer, Planning and Research Officer, Department Training Officer, Department Inspector, Director of Personnel and the Department Executive Officer.
In April 1977 while in the capacity of Planning and Research Officer did establish within the Smithfield Police Department a Traffic Division which was equipped with two traffic wagons fully equipped for any type of emergency, obtained additional Radar units for the department, Two-way radios, a Polygraph Machine which required six weeks of schooling for an officer from the department, a Closed Circuit Television System for the Police Station, Federal Funding which enabled the department to hire additional personnel to supplement the department with extra patrols daily many months of the year, of which all the mentioned items were totally Federally funded.
In his career with the Smithfield Police Department he had seen the department grow from a three room police station in the Town Hall to a modern multi-room facility which is located on Pleasant View Avenue. Captain Williams, past members of the department and present members of the department were able to have happily contributed to the excavation of the grounds where the new Smithfield Police Facility is located today. Captain Williams has also seen the department grow from a seven member, 2 car police department to the proud department is it is today.
Besides his wife, he is survived by his son Prescott J. Williams, III and his wife Lynn and his daughter Deborah K. Ciotola and her husband Sam all of Smithfield. He was the loving grandfather of Prescott “PJ” Williams, IV (Patty), Jessica L. Sauvageau (Jody), Sam Ciotola (Maureen) and Julie Ciotola; great-grandfather of Prescott “Jack” Williams, V, Nicholas and Sofia Williams, AJ and Jillian Ciotola. He was the brother of Mary K. Smith and the late Andrew J. and Beatrice Williams.