ABC6 EXCLUSIVE: Former mobster speaks out about Col. O’Donnell’s retirement
By Bianca Buono
bbuono@abc6.com
@BBuonoABC6
Colonel Steven O’Donnell, superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police, is retiring after more than 30 years in law enforcement. One of his most notable achievements was working under cover for six years, infiltrating one of the most powerful crime families in Rhode Island’s history.
Now, one of the men O’Donnell is credited for putting behind bars is speaking out exclusively to ABC6.
"They do what they have to do to take you off the street if you’re a criminal,” said Gerald Tillinghast, who grew up in South Providence.
It all started in 1994 when O’Donnell was working undercover for Rhode Island State Police using the alias ‘Steve Foley’. He was trying to infiltrate the notorious Patriarca mafia family.
The Tillinghast family was thought to be connected to them so when O’Donnell ran into Gerald’s brother Harold outside of a courthouse in Providence, he made his move. He told Harold he was a bookie looking to pay the local mob for protection.
"Steve seized the moment,” Tillinghast said.
"I loved doing that. I loved the chase. I loved the wire-taps, the bugs and the craftiness and trying to beat them at their own game,” said Col. O’Donnell.
And that’s exactly what O’Donnell did. After six years of working under cover and earning the trust of some of the biggest mafia players in New England, he testified and convicted dozens of criminals, including the Tillinghast brothers.
"People think it’s really cool but it’s stressful,” said O’Donnell of his time working under cover.
"It just takes a certain quality guy, I think, to go undercover like that knowing the ramifications,” Tillinghast said.
Now, after leading the state police department for more than five years, O’Donnell is retiring. His tenure is so impressive that even Tillinghast says there are no hard feelings.
"I thought he did a good job. I hate to say this because of my brother and me but you look at being honest and being open looking at things, you know, I think he did a good job,” Tillinghast said.
Tillinghast is writing a book about his life and it will include an interview with Col. O’Donnell.
O’Donnell’s last day on the job is September 23rd.
© WLNE-TV 2016
