Bristol has long known about Lt. Steven St. Pierre’s exemplary service to his community, but now the entire state knows. Lt. St. Pierre was presented with the Rhode Island Police Chiefs’ Association’s Exemplary Service Award at the association’s trade show on Tuesday, Nov. 15.

The award recognizes a Rhode Island police officer who has made outstanding contributions to the law enforcement community in the areas of extraordinary valor, crime prevention, detective work, community service and relations, juvenile work, drug control and prevention, training, traffic safety, mentoring, and/or innovative approaches to public safety.

In his nomination, Bristol Police Chief Kevin Lynch wrote in part, “It is without hesitation that I recommend Lt. St. Pierre for this year’s RIPCA award to recognize and showcase to other municipal police departments how one leader can substantially make a difference in his/her community.”

Citing St. Pierre’s work on initiatives from mental health support to substance use prevention and recovery, to suicide prevention and youth mentorship, Lynch said, “I’m beyond impressed with Lt. St. Pierre’s passion and vision….Every police department and Chief of Police would immensely benefit from a leader with the level of empathy, poise and professionalism demonstrated daily by Lt. St. Pierre.”

“Lt. St. Pierre demonstrates a passion for serving the Bristol community and has made outstanding contributions to the Bristol Police Department and community as a whole,” said RIPCA President and Narragansett Police Chief Sean Corrigan. “We were pleased to present Lt. St. Pierre with this year's award in recognition of his efforts.”

Reached for comment, St. Pierre was characteristically modest.

“Everything the Chief mentioned was a collaborative effort with community members or other members of the department,” he said. “Safe Station was the chief’s idea and a community collaboration, vaccination clinics were a collaboration with (fire) Chief DeMello, Youth Leadership Camp was a collaboration with SRO Keith Medeiros and Greg Silva and other members of the department.

“I’m honored and grateful to be recognized, but I didn’t do it alone.”