Weisberger, Rocha Headed for RI Criminal Justice Hall of Fame

Two late criminal justice leaders in Rhode Island from East Providence will be among seven inducted into the Rhode Island Criminal Justice Hall of Fame Thursday evening.

Rhode Island Supreme Court Justice Joseph R. Weisberger and East Providence Police Chief (Ret.) George Rocha, both deceased, will be inducted in a ceremony at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick.

They are members of the Class of 2013 that includes:

• Chief (Ret.) William Devine, North Providence Police Department
• Melissa Leahey, Manager of Advocacy Services, Elizabeth Buffum Chace Center
• Colonel (Ret.) Edmond S. Culhane, Jr. Rhode Island State Police
• John Hardiman, Rhode Island Public Defender
• Special Supervisory Resident Agent (Ret.) Daniel J. Knight, Providence Resident Agency, FBI

The Criminal Justice Hall of Fame is a nonprofit organization that was started by Attorney General Peter Kilmartin about a year ago “to honor outstanding professionals who have worked to improve and uphold the principles of the criminal justice system in Rhode Island.”

Inductees into the Hall of Fame are nominated and selected by the Criminal Justice Hall of Fame Board of Trustees.  Inductees include local and state law enforcement professionals, academics, judges, attorneys and other professionals who have made a significant impact in the criminal justice system through personal and professional achievements.

In addition, the Board of Trustees has voted to honor all police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty with a special induction dedication into the Hall of Fame.