Fall River – Retired Tiverton Police Chief Paul A. Jerome, 92, of Tiverton, RI died Thursday, May 12, 2005 at Charlton Memorial Hospital. He was the husband of the late Edith E. (Smith) Jerome and was the former husband of the late Florence A. (Mullen) Cummings.
He was born in Tiverton, son of the late Antone V. and Catherine (Fernandes) Jerome, and was a lifelong resident of Tiverton. In the early 1930’s he graduated from Herricks Business School, Fall River and completed the Durfee Textile, Fall River 1 year Blue Print & Drafting Program. He assisted in the construction of the Sea Wall and Cosway Bridge in Tiverton from 1931 to 1934 under the Works Progress Administration Act. From 1934 to 1940 he worked as head mechanic at the former Grinnell’s Garage, Tiverton and in 1940 served as an apprentice, eventually becoming a journeyman, setting up the automatic machines that produced bullets and torpedo parts for Newport Torpedo Station, Newport, RI. He worked as an electrical contractor for 1 year in 1947 and also in factories from 1948 to 1954 setting up automatic machines.
Mr. Jerome was a member of the Tiverton Police Department from 1947 to 1973, he began his career as a reserve until becoming a regular police officer in 1953, ultimately becoming Chief of Police in 1965 at the age of 52. In 1970 he reorganized the police department and set up and initiated the detective department and in October, 1968 he took a 3-week course at Babson Institute of Business in Wellesley, MA at the Command Training Institute learning Riot Control, Narcotic Interception, Civil Order and Bomb Training. He was a life member of the Rhode Island and New England Police Chiefs Associations, serving 2 years on the Board of Directors for the New England Chiefs Association. He was a past member of the National Riflemans Association.
After his retirement in July, 1973 he was employed as a security guard at Charlton Memorial Hospital, Fall River until retiring in 1983. He was vice president of the International Association of Hospitals Security from 1980 to 1982 and served as president from 1982 to 1983.
He is survived a son: Peter Jerome of Tiverton, RI; 3 daughters: Mary Scharn of Kaweah, CA, Carol DeSouza of Tiverton, RI and Susan Radke of Dayton, NV; a brother: Edward S. Jerome of Tiverton, RI; 4 sisters: Mary M. Jerome of Tiverton, RI, Rita Morris of Portsmouth, RI, Ruth Bento of Tiverton, RI and Catherine Dennis of Noblesville, IN; 10 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
He was father of the late Paul A. Jerome, Jr. and brother of the late John Jerome and Joseph Jerome.
Mass of Christian Burial to which relatives and friends are invited will be Tuesday, May 17, 2005 at St. Christopher’s Church, Tiverton at 10:00 A.M.
Calling hours Monday 4 – 7 P.M. at the Potter Funeral Home.
Interment in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Fall River.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: Tiverton Fire/Rescue Association, 85 Main Rd., Tiverton, RI 02878.