Cumberland police officers commended
Pair honored for lifesaving efforts in helping a woman and child escape from burning building
CUMBERLAND — Two police officers who helped a woman and a child escape from a burning house Thursday will receive commendations from Police Chief John Desmarais at the Town Council’s meeting Wednesday.
The officers, Sgt. Matthew Alves and Officer Kenneth Henneberry, are being called heroes for their assistance and rescue at the threealarm fire, which broke out around noon at 337 High St. near Our Lady of Fatima Church.
Fire Chief Kenneth Finlay said no one was injured in the fire, and that the two officers saved a tenant and child trapped on the second floor.
Firefighters rescued an unresponsive dog from the house, and Cumberland Emergency Medical Services paramedics on the scene worked for about a half hour to resuscitate it before taking the dog to a veterinary practice in East Greenwich. The dog is expected to recover.
Fire companies from several surrounding communities provided mutual aid.
The American Red Cross said it was assisting a family of two adults and three children who were affected by the fire.
The Town Council’s meeting on Wednesday will be held at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 45 Broad St.
Alves is a six-year member of the Cumberland Police Department. He became a member of the department on March 14, 2005. Alves was promoted to the rank of
sergeant on Nov. 18, 2011.
He holds an associate’s degree from Community College of Rhode Island, a bachelor’s degree from Roger Williams University, and a master’s degree from Anna Maria College.
Sgt. Alves is a member of the special arrest unit, he is a car seat safety technician, a member of the bike patrol, a field training officer, firearms instructor, a member of the Cumberland Police Department Color Guard and a computer IT coordinator for the police department.
Officer Henneberry has been a member of the Cumberland Police Department since Aug. 2, 2009. He is a day shift officer and is a certified fitness specialist and field training officer for new members of the department.
Henneberry attended Mount Saint Charles Academy in Woonsocket. He was on the varsity track and basketball teams, and graduated in 2002. After graduation from high school, he attended Norwich University. While at Norwich he was a member of the Corps of Cadets. He graduated from Norwich in 2006 with a Bachelors degree in Criminal Justice.
During the summers of 2004-2006, he worked as a seasonal police officer for the town of Edgartown, Mass. That experience solidified his decision to become a full-time police officer. The December following his graduation from Norwich University, he enrolled at Norwich again to receive his master’s degree. After only 18 months, he received his master’s in Criminal Justice.