Her impactful story of absolute, unchecked authority driven by hate serves as a reminder to law enforcement officers that we are here to serve the public and protect all people.”

Barrington Police Chief Michael Correia

Barrington Police Chief Michael Correia was on vacation a few weeks back when news broke about a Tiverton restaurant that posted a Facebook meme making light of Anne Frank. 

The meme was met with a loud outcry from Facebook readers and the community, and led to a special event at the public library in Tiverton where two Holocaust survivors shared their stories with a large group of people.

That event, Chief Correia said, spurred him to organize a special event for the officers in his department. Chief Correia reached out to Wendy Joering, the executive director of the Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center, who helped facilitate a special presentation for the local police force.

Earlier this week, Ruth Oppenheim, a 95-year-old Barrington resident, stopped by the Barrington Police Department and shared her first person account of “Kristallnacht” (Night of Broken Glass) in 1938 Germany. During Kristallnacht, Nazi leaders started programs targeting the Jewish population in Germany — it got its name because of the shattered glass from Jewish-owned businesses, homes and synagogues that littered the streets. 

Chief Correia said Oppenheim’s account was very compelling.

“Her impactful story of absolute, unchecked authority driven by hate serves as a reminder to law enforcement officers that we are here to serve the public and protect all people,” Chief Correia wrote in a message to the Barrington Times.

Chief Correia said he thought it was important for local police officers to hear Oppenheim’s story. 

“I think it’s a way of humanizing this situation,” Chief Correia said in an interview. 

Following the presentation, Oppenheim posed for a photograph with members of the police department.