Retired EG Deputy Police Chief's Gun Stolen

The service gun of retired Deputy Police Chief Bill Higgins was stolen from his house on Greenwich Boulevard midday Wednesday, police said. His house was one of three houses broken into in recent days.

WPRI.com reported Higgins had confirmed the theft but he offered no other details.

Higgins was able to keep his weapon – a SigSauer P220 .45 caliber handgun – after leaving the EGPD because of a departmental policy, according to EG police Sgt. Jon Chirnside.

"A member who retires in good standing may purchase their weapon at a prorated amount," Chirnside said Friday.

Certain forms must be filled out to complete the transaction. In this case, Higgins never completed the transaction, so the gun is still registered to the EGPD, Chirnside said.

"Because ownership was not officially transferred, it's ours," he said. 

The other two houses broken into this week were on Eugene Street (on Tuesday, Nov. 6) and on Howland Drive (Thursday, Nov. 8). In all three incidents, the houses were unoccupied and the break ins happened midday. Jewelry was targeted, Chirnside said. 

He said on Friday afternoon that no additional break ins had been reported and no arrests made. But, he said, "We're working on a couple of leads."