HOUSE RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING SMITHFIELD POLICE DETECTIVE LIEUTENANT DOUGLAS CERCE ON BEING NAMED THE 2025 RHODE ISLAND POLICE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION DETECTIVE OF THE YEAR

H7715

2026 -- H 7715
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LC004871
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
CONGRATULATING SMITHFIELD POLICE DETECTIVE LIEUTENANT DOUGLAS
CERCE ON BEING NAMED THE 2025 RHODE ISLAND POLICE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION
DETECTIVE OF THE YEAR

Introduced By:
Representatives Santucci, Hopkins, Quattrocchi, Place, Noret, Azzinaro,
Bennett, McNamara, J. Brien, and Read

Date Introduced:
February 11, 2026

Referred To:
House read and passed
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WHEREAS, Detective Lieutenant Douglas Cerce began his exemplary public service
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career in 1999 when he joined the Smithfield Police Department. In 2003, he attained the position
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of temporary detective and, thanks to his tireless work ethic, abiding integrity, strong leadership
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qualities, and superb police skills, he has regularly been promoted up the leadership ladder to the
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position of Detective Lieutenant, and has earned recognition and praise from his colleagues and
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superiors; and
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WHEREAS, Detective Cerce was honored by the Rhode Island Police Chiefs
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Association, for his “Exceptional investigative leadership and service to the law enforcement
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community.” Detective Cerce has spent more than two decades in the detective division, and has
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overseen many complex investigations while, at the same time, mentoring his fellow detectives
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and excelling in his many community outreach events; and
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WHEREAS, Detective Cerce is particularly well known for his expertise in technology-
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related cyber fraud cases, solving some of the most difficult cases police departments have to deal
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with, many of them involving massive amounts of money stolen. Detective Cerce has also
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performed his duties in a superb fashion as a leader of the Rhode Island Detectives Association
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since 2010; and
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WHEREAS, Most recently, Detective Cerce has been spending more time on the
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administrative side of law enforcement, where he has implemented a new record system and has
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been training officers on how to access and use this system. Thanks to Detective Cerce’s

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outstanding work through the years, many cyber victims have seen their assets partially or
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completely restored and, equally important, many sophisticated cyber criminals have received
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significant jail sentences for preying on the vulnerable; now, therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby
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heartily congratulates Smithfield Police Detective Lieutenant Douglas Cerce on receiving the
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2025 Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association Detective of the Year Award. We furthermore
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thank him for his tireless work and crime-solving skills that have helped so many victims of cyber
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crimes and other crimes, and we wish him continued success in all of his future endeavors; now,
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therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to
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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Smithfield Detective Lieutenant Douglas
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Cerce.
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