New North Kingstown police chief to be appointed

NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (WLNE) — North Kingstown’s town manager has appointed Captain John J. Urban, Jr. as Chief of the North Kingstown Police Department.

Captain Urban has served as Acting Chief and will become the 11th Chief of Police in North Kingstown’s history.

An official swearing in of Captain Urban is set to take place on March 27.

“I am proud and honored to appoint this decorated and respected 22-year veteran of the North Kingstown Police Department as its next Chief,” A. Ralph Mollis, Town Manager, said. “John is well-respected by his peers in law enforcement throughout the State, has respect from his partners in Public Safety in North Kingstown, and knows the department inside out after having worked through the ranks and various positions of the Department.”

In his 22 years with the department, Captain Urban served as a school resource officer, detective, patrol sergeant, administrative lieutenant and administrative captain before becoming acting chief with the retirement of Chief Pat Flanagan.

Captain Urban also served in the U.S. Army and R.I. National Guard being awarded the Combat Action Badge and served as a corrections officer and earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Roger Williams University.