‘Outstanding,’ Burrillville Police Chief lauds officer’s efforts to disarm gun-wielding assailant

BURRILLVILLE, R.I. (WLNE) — It was harrowing moments for a Burrillville police officer on July 3, when a man pointed a gun inches from her head.

The incident was caught on police body camera, as the Burrillville Police Department responded to a call of shots fired last week.

ABC6 spoke with Burrillville Police Chief Stephen Lynch, who said it all went down in seconds.

“This happened incredibly quick,” he said. “And her reaction was nothing short of outstanding.”

The chief said it happened in a quiet neighborhood on Tarkiln Road, as Officer Kathleen Kelley, with 25 years of experience, stepped up to the door first.

Officer Devon Itzkowitz, who had been with the department for just a couple of weeks, followed right behind, capturing it all on his bodycam.

40-year-old Nicholas Smith met them at the door, at which point Officer Kelley made a potentially life-saving decision.

“Her instant reaction was to push Smith’s arm up and away from her,” Lynch said. “And she continued and was able to pull the firearm out of his hand.”

The three officers and sergeant on-scene then arrested Smith, who now faces a long list of charges, including Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Possession of a Firearm while Intoxicated.

“This is a jail case, there’s no doubt in my mind,” Lynch said. “I don’t care what the criminal history is.”

ABC6 asked Lynch if there was anything the officers could have done differently, and he said they would have been well within their rights to shoot Smith.

He said he was grateful they didn’t pull the trigger in hindsight, emphasizing that Kelley’s quick thinking may have saved her life and those around her.

Burrillville Police Officer Kathleen Kelley (courtesy Burrillville Police Department)

“It’s in the back of the minds of all police officers walking into those type of situations,” Lynch said. “And in those one, two, three seconds is critical to all lives involved.”

Smith was scheduled to be formally arraigned Tuesday morning in Providence.