Deputy Chief Thomas F. Oates III

Commander Oates is the Deputy to Chief Clements. He is responsible for all operations within the Uniform and Investigative divisions and also assists Colonel Clements in the administration of the entire department. Commander Oates is also responsible for disciplinary matters.

Commander Thomas F. Oates III was appointed to the Providence Police Department on July 20, 1980, and assigned to the Patrol Bureau, Uniformed Division, as a night patrol officer. In 1981, he was transferred to the Traffic Bureau, Uniformed Division. In 1982, he was assigned to the Intelligence Bureau, Headquarters Division. In June of 1984, he was detailed to the Community Task Force until he was reassigned back to the Intelligence Bureau in January of 1985. On November 12, 1985, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and remained in the Intelligence Bureau. In March of 1987, he was transferred to the Special Investigations Bureau and in June of 1989, he was designated as the Commanding Officer of the Intelligence Unit. In October of 1989, he was assigned to the Traffic Bureau, Uniformed Division. On January 13,1995, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and assigned to the Patrol Bureau, Uniformed Division. On November 5, 1995, he was transferred to the Detective Bureau, Investigative Division and in conjunction with his Detective Bureau duties, he was designated the Commanding Officer of the Special Response Unit. On May 7, 1999, he was transferred to the Special Services Division and was designated Commanding Officer. On January 16, 2000, he was promoted to the rank of Captain and continued to serve as the Commanding Officer of the Special Services Division. On February 11, 2001, he was transferred to the Patrol Bureau, Uniform Division and designated Commanding Officer of the Out-First Relief. On June 11, 2003, he was transferred to the Administrative Division and designated Commanding Officer. In September 2004 he was promoted to the rank of Major and continued to serve as Commanding Officer of the Administrative Division. In November 2008 he was transferred to the Investigative Division and designated as Commanding Officer of the Investigative Division. In April of 2012 he was promoted to the rank of Deputy Chief of Police and continues to serve in that capacity.

He is the recipient of numerous commendations for excellent police work and devotion to duty, including a commendation for the apprehension of a suspect responsible for an armed robbery in 1981. In 1983, Major Oates, then a patrolman received the American Legion Award for outstanding police work for the rescue of a woman from a burning building in the Silver Lake section of the City. In 1989, he was awarded the Chief's Award for preventing a suicidal subject from jumping off a building.

The Commander has a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from Bryant College and Roger Williams University. He has participated in numerous outside agency seminars and training programs, some of which include: Training Seminar on police management taught at Babson College. In 1989, he graduated from the DEA Drug Unit Commanders Academy. In March of 2002, he graduated from a ten week FBI National Academy training program in Quantico, VA. In June of 2004, he graduated from a three-week training seminar at the Senior Management Institute for Police sponsored by the Police Executive Research Forum in conjunction with the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.


PH: 401-243-6401
EMAIL: toates@providenceri.com