Michael Colacone always wanted to become a police officer, developing a respect for law enforcement at a young age.
But because 21 was the minimum age requirement, he joined the Army National Guard first.
“One of the things if you go back to when I was born was that you had a lot of respect for police officers in the community,” Colacone said. “When I was growing up, the police officers were in the community walking around. They were awe-inspiring as far as I was concerned.”
During a six-year stint with the National Guard, he gained experience with the military police before becoming an investigator and serving in one of the military police detachments.
Upon his return home to Rhode Island, Colacone applied for both the Cranston and Providence police departments before accepting a position with the Cranston location and working as a patrolman and investigator.
When the Federal Bureau of Investigation began looking for law enforcement officers, Colacone, who had been working on the police force in Cranston for 15 years, applied.
Colacone was accepted into the FBI, but his Cranston supervisor placed him on paid leave in case he changed his mind.
“I got a taste of it for two weeks and then decided it wasn’t for me,” he said. “I was very fortunate. My chief was very adamant that I not leave and quit.”
While meeting different people throughout his days as a patrolman, Colacone regularly worked alongside families who lost loved ones.
“That kind of brought me to the realization as a police officer that I’m there to protect you against those who want to hurt you,” Colacone said. “That always felt special to me. I felt like I was accomplishing something as a police officer.”
One case that brought back memories was a gold theft investigation with a local jewelry manufacturer.
“The case was a little complicated,” Colacone said. “We ended up working with the FBI. It was a two-year investigation before indictments and investigations ensued. One of the big money men from the mob was apprehended. His assets were confiscated. We ended up putting a couple of bank vice presidents in jail.”
After working as a patrolman for eight years, Colacone was promoted to sergeant and became an investigator.
“I stayed in investigation for probably three years until I got promoted to lieutenant,” he said. “Then when I got promoted to lieutenant, I had to go back to patrol. I spent two more years in patrol and then I got promoted to captain in the administrative division.”
After retiring as captain from the Cranston Police Department in 1994, he moved to Florida and worked in loss prevention before becoming a child protective investigator.
“When I retired from the police department, I was still too young,” Colacone said. “I was in my 40s. I thought I would like to teach criminal justice at the high school. I applied. One principal wanted to hire me. At the same time, I had another offer as the director of the juvenile center in Marion County.”
Due to a lack of funding, he decided to leave the juvenile center in June before being called in December by the Marion County alternative education program.
“He ran education programs in these juvenile jails,” Colacone said. “They were incarcerated jail facilities. He said, ‘Your background would be perfect. You have a master’s degree. You’re able to handle that type of population.’”
Colacone returned to Florida Southern College to receive additional credits before earning his teaching certificate.
“I ended up teaching at a level eight facility, which was later reduced to a level six,” Colacone said.
After transferring to another level eight facility, he started a program for the Marion County jail.
“I ended up there until the job at the college opened up because they had a tie-in with the Marion County School system,” Colacone said. “I transferred from the Marion County School alternative educational program and got into the program for the criminal justice institute.”
Colacone met Mike Shuler, an academic advisor, while working at the College of Central Florida’s criminal justice division, where he managed advanced and specialized training for active law enforcement officers.
“Mike initially, for several years, was the coordinator for the advanced and specialized program,” Shuler said. “He set up a lot of the different training programs. He was also the outreach person. He had a lot of meetings with different police chiefs and sheriffs to help to understand what the training needs were.”
Shuler and Colacone remain good friends today and still keep in touch.
“He has very good organizational skills and attention to detail,” Shuler said. “He really ramped it up to a very much higher level and grew the program. That’s just because he communicates with people and got along very well with other people. We serve a variety of agency heads through the agency of Florida we service. He had very good relations with pretty much all of the agencies we dealt with.
“He’s a good person to work with, a good team member and easy to get along with,” Shuler added. “I’m not just saying that either, it’s just what I know from working with him. He’s a very impressive person as far as his work goes.”
In 2012, Colacone and his wife purchased their lot in Tellico Village and decided it was time to enjoy life.
He’s involved with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, where he holds 12 classes per year at the Yacht Club. Since being named vice flotilla commander, he plans to delegate the public education component to one of the newer staff members.
Carolyn McDermott, who serves as auxiliary commander, met Colacone when she became a member of the flotilla.
“I think the guy is a super stand-up guy,” McDermott said. “He’s sensible. He’s also sensitive. I’ve seen him work with people, especially in problem areas. He’s a good mediator. He’s very committed and oriented to things going on. He gets the job done whenever he’s asked to do something. He’s a good citizen, and he’s a caring individual.
“In terms of integrity and all of the other characteristics, he’s got them in spades,” McDermott said. “… I’m one of his staunch supporters.”
Neighbor Bob Brown said he and Colacone have been going to lunch together for two years and started inviting other men to join.
“I think he’s very forthright and frank, which is very good,” Brown said. “He always tells the truth. He’s not flowery.”
