Barrington has hired a new police chief. 

On Thursday, June 3, the town manager announced that Michael Correia, a 34-year veteran of the Providence Police Department, has been named the next police chief in Barrington. 

Barrington Town Manager Jim Cunha said Mr. Correia will begin working in Barrington on June 28. 

“Mike Correia’s exemplary career in law enforcement, experience in community policing and leadership skills makes him the ideal candidate to be Barrington’s next police chief,” Mr. Cunha said. “The citizens of Barrington will be fortunate to have Mike leading the Barrington Police Department.”

Mr. Correia began his police work in Providence as patrolman and climbed to the rank of major, where he currently serves as commanding officer of the uniformed division. He supervises a staff of 225 sworn supervisors and officers as well as 55 civilian employees.

Mr. Correia has also served as the narcotics and organized crime commander, district commander, uniformed division sergeant, narcotics detective and patrolman. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Roger Williams University and a master’s degree from Salve Regina University in administration of justice. He also participated in Harvard University’s Executive Education Program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government.

In an interview on Thursday, Mr. Correia said he was drawn to apply for the position for a few reasons: The town, the Barrington Police Department, and the opportunity. He said he is looking forward to beginning his work in town.

“I think it was a couple of things — the town itself; it’s a nice town, a nice community. And the police department,” he said, adding that the local department was very well run. “It was the opportunity to lead an organization like that and serve a community. It looked like a real good opportunity.”

The next Barrington police chief said he anticipates working in Barrington will present different challenges … “certainly, but challenges just the same.” He said he is excited to begin his work in Barrington.

“It’s a new challenge for me, and I’m really looking forward to it,” he said. 

Mr. Correia said there are many people in his family who are public servants — his father is a retired state trooper, his sisters are school teachers, and he has sons who are police officers and firefighters. 

Mr. Correia said he recently had an opportunity to speak with current police chief Dino DeCrescenzo. Chief DeCrescenzo’s final day with the Barrington Police Department is July 2.