As Newport works to finalize the last two years of a police union contract, city officials are proposing a 7% pay increase to boost recruitment and retention. ​Newport City Manager John Hayden said in 2023, former Newport City Manager Tom Fromme negotiated a five-year deal with the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #2. At the […]
Tag: Newport Police Department
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Newport shuts down Diamond Debbie’s bar after 500 police calls in two years
Newport police responded to a single bar more than 500 times in just two years, a volume of calls city leaders say ultimately led to its condemnation. ​According to Newport police data shared with LINK nky, officers were dispatched to Diamond Debbie’s, located at 717 Patterson St., 501 times between March 24, 2024, and March […]
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Newport Police Captain retires after 27 Years: ‘I love you guys’
For 27 years, Newport Police Department Captain Paul Kunkel helped define community-oriented policing in the city; now, he is retiring. The department hired Kunkel on Nov. 16, 1998. The Newport Commission recognized Kunkel’s career with a shadowbox at the Dec. 15 meeting. “A long time ago, Newport police had a huge influence on me,” Kunkel […]
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Newport Police Department hiring officers
The Newport Police Department is accepting applications for both new and lateral patrol officers. Officers can earn up to $86,845 (not including $4,562 in annual training pay). Officers can earn up to 240 vacation hours per year, paid holidays, longevity pay, a take-home vehicle, and over 180 days off per year. For more information and […]
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Newport’s K9 Kilo receives Honorable Service Medal
After years of chasing suspects, sniffing out trouble, and occasionally catching the zoomies, K9 Kilo is hanging up his leash. The city of Newport and its police department honored K9 Kilo and his handler, Newport Police Officer Chris Gallichio, at the Sept. 15 meeting with the Honorable Service Medal for Kilo’s seven years of service […]
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Newport’s parking app pilot faces opposition from local businesses
Newport business owners along Monmouth Street attended the most recent commission meeting to express concerns about the meterless parking pilot. In January, the Newport Police Department started exploring a pilot program with Passport Parking. The app-based parking portion of the program allows users to find, reserve, and pay for parking directly from their phones. At […]
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Man hit, killed on I-471 bridge while trying to help disabled vehicle
A collision on the Big Mac Bridge has left one pedestrian dead. According to the Newport Police Department, on July 6, around 3:40 a.m., a person was hit while helping a disabled driver on I-471 northbound on the bridge. A vehicle had broken down in the far-right lane, and the person stopped behind it to […]
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Newport expands Tesla police fleet with four more vehicles
The city of Newport continues to add new vehicles to its Tesla pilot program for the police department. The Newport Police Department first added three Tesla Model 3 vehicles in December 2023 and then requested two more in November 2024 after the success of the first three. In January, Newport requested the Tesla Model Y […]
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Newport recognizes retired police officer for 36 years of service
Newport honored retired Lt. Col. Robert McCray with a proclamation for “Robert McCray Day.” McCray is a lifelong Newport resident who dedicated 36 years of service to the Newport Police Department, retiring in 2010 as Lieutenant Colonel and Assistant Chief of Police. McCray was Newport’s first African American police officer appointed as a patrolman on […]
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Newport adds Tesla Model Y to electric fleet, expanding beyond police use
Newport is continuing to expand its electric vehicle fleet, this time for its planning and development department. The city already has Tesla Model 3 vehicles for administrative use in its police department. The department first added three of the vehicles in December 2023 and then requested two more in November 2024 after the success of […]