University police officer protects, connects with campus community

Since 1997, University of Rhode Island patrolman Mark Chearino has created another role in his job by doing more than protecting and serving the URI community.

After working in airfield operations from 1986 to 1994, Chearino took up a job in security until around 1996.  That year there was a job opening on campus at the police department and he decided to apply. Chearino got the job, went to the police academy, graduated and became a police officer in 1997.

He said he knew he wanted to do something geared toward a police or a firefighting profession and when the opportunity opened up he knew he had to take it.

Chearino said he does "everything a police officer is required to do." In addition to that, Chearino said he "butt[s his] head in everyone's business" by attending various student organization meetings and practices just to say hello.

"I take [it] a step further to get out into the community, that's why I'm always around," Chearino said. "I just like the community that I serve and protect. I think it benefits everybody to have community-related police officers. Talking to the students, getting to know them as much as we can, having them get to know you as a person as opposed to just a law enforcement officer."

Chearino described the campus as being "like New York City during the day" because people are moving around non-stop and running to class. Chearino takes the afternoon-to-early-night shift, which he said was the "downtime" shift. This time allows Chearino to socialize with students. He said he doesn't let the fact that he socializes with students get in the way of him doing his job. He said if there is a situation where a car needs to get towed, it doesn't matter if it's a student that he knows or if it's a faculty member. Chearino said he will do his job and go through with it.

"I tell them I don't segregate a staff person who's illegally parked to a student," Chearino said. "That's just not me... I just try and be as fair as I can in my police work."

The URI Police Department (URIPD) has created the Police Assistant Learning Support (PALS) alongside the university's Talent Development (TD) department for students in the summer program who "are interested in a career in law enforcement."

Chearino said the department is looking forward to expanding the PALS program to include other students outside of the TD community.

Though he said he isn't solely responsible, he was "very instrumental," along with  Maj. Stephen Baker and the rest of the URIPD in the organization of a "very successful" student internship program.

Chearino also hosts a Blues n' Cues event every month in the Memorial Union. The free event allows students to play pool with Chearino and other students, all while pizza is provided for the players.

"It's a smaller event, kind of more intimate, if you will," Chearino said. "I like that because I don't get too many students, but I get different students all the time."

Every year, Chearino hosts a free ice skating night for the URI community. This year, the event will be held on March 25 from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. at the Bradford R. Boss Arena.  He said students shouldn't be discouraged if they go and there are lines at the skating rink because there will be a rotation system where different students will have the opportunity to get on the rink.