Ret. Glocester chief up for US Marshal

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WPRI) - The former longtime chief of the Glocester Police Department is President Barack Obama's pick to be the next U.S. Marshal for Rhode Island.

U.S. Sens. Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse have recommended Jamie Hainsworth to the White House to fill the spot left vacant last May when Steven O'Donnell stepped down to become the superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police. O'Donnell replaced Brendan Doherty, who is running for Congress.

"Chief Hainsworth is an experienced law enforcement officer who has had a successful career in criminal justice," Reed and Whitehouse said in a joint statement. "He is a capable leader who has handled every aspect of law enforcement from making arrests, to overseeing a staff and budget, to serving as a community liaison."

Hainsworth was most recently the president of the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association. He has worked in law enforcement for more than 30 years and is a graduate of Roger Williams University, according to the release.

"Chief Hainsworth is widely respected throughout Rhode Island’s law enforcement community for his character and integrity and we are confident he will make an outstanding U.S. Marshal," the senators said in the statement.

Hainsworth must be approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee – of which Whitehouse is a member – and then be confirmed by the full Senate before he can be sworn in as U.S. Marshal.

Chip Unruh, spokesperson for Senator Reed, said he hopes the Senate will take up the issue quickly.

"We think that it's vital," Unruh said. "The Marshals play an important role not just in securing courthouses but in other areas of law enforcement like tracking down fugitives. There is an urgent need to get this done."

Tim White ( twhite@wpri.com ) is the Target 12 investigative reporter for WPRI 12 and Fox Providence. Follow him on Twitter: @white_tim