Sometime around 10:30 last Thursday morning, the sounds of “Gold Bless America” echoed through the hot, humid air at a shaded section of Johnston War Memorial Park.
The patriotic anthem was being sung by dozens senior citizens and law enforcement officials during what Chris Giardina – a longtime volunteer at places like the Johnston Senior Center and events like last Thursday’s weekly Walk with Cops – called a “special, star-studded slice of Americana.”
The special Walk with Cops was the combined work of Police Chief Richard S. Tamburini and Marie Conti, a member of the department’s Community Policing Unit who coordinates the award-winning program’s spring and summer sessions.
Each of the long banquet-style tables set up by Johnston Recreation Department staffers were covered with a plastic cloth that featured red, white, and blue stars. There were even special centerpieces with sparkling silver stars enhanced by miniature American flags.
In keeping with tradition, some of the department’s highest-ranking officers – as well as volunteers like Giardina and Cami Corrente – went from person to person serving yogurt, donuts, Danish, coffee, and orange juice.
Even Olivia and Victoria Young, Conti’s granddaughters, helped make the morning special for each and every senior citizen.
After the recent killing of police officers in incidents around the country, Tamburini wanted last Thursday’s Walk with Cops to take on a special look. He also wanted the town’s senior citizens to know that “we continue to interact with and protect our seniors and youngest citizens.”
As he made his weekly rounds greeting the guests, Tamburini said: “We wanted this patriotic look based on what’s happening with law enforcement throughout the country. I met with my officers and told them we certainly don’t want what’s happening around the country to happen here in Johnston.
“It seems as though police officers throughout the country have an ‘X’ on their backs,” he continued. “Considering what’s happening, the pressure is greater than ever. However, as far as our officers are concerned, their intentions are certainly high. The Johnston Police Department is concerned and will continue to protect and serve as we’ve always done. It’s expected by our citizens to do what we have to do in these times.”
The veteran Johnston chief – who founded Walk with Cops 21 years ago when he came to Johnston after a highly-decorated career in Providence – wanted it known: “When one officer bleeds, whether it’s in Louisiana or wherever, we all bleed. We all have families waiting for us to come home.”
Tamburini also said Mayor Joseph Polisena has been “100 percent supportive and has made sure that our officers have best state-of-the-art equipment.”
As the chief spoke, Conti conducted the customary raffle and passed out sheets of paper with the words of two songs that everyone at Walk with Cops sang. The first, as noted, was “God Bless America,” and the second was “Take Me Out to the Ball Game."
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