Caitlin Poplawski ’09 named Newport Police Department’s first LGBTQ+ liaison

Caitlin Poplawski ’09 was recently named the Newport Police Department’s first LGBTQ+ liaison. In this position, she aims to ensure that the LGBTQ+ community feels safe in the city. The job is a culmination of a dream Poplawski had for many years of being a police officer and helping those in need.

Choosing Salve Regina

Growing up in Connecticut, Poplawski loved the beach and Newport always stuck out to her. She had visited multiple times, but one moment made her want Newport to be her new home – and to attend Salve Regina.

“I came down for Saint Patrick’s Day parade, and it was snowing,” she said. “It was so beautiful, and I was like, ‘I love it here.’”

During her time at Salve Regina, Poplawski majored in criminal justice and criminology with a minor in psychology. She also played intramural basketball and was a member of the women’s softball team.

Vincent Petrarca, senior lecturer in the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, stands out to Poplawski as an important influence. “He was so great, and he helped me with what I wanted to do with my career,” she said. “He was always an advocate for me and has been a good resource I could reach out to with any questions.”

Becoming Newport’s first LGTBQ+ liaison

Near the end of her Salve Regina career, Poplawski knew she wanted to be a police officer but wasn’t quite ready. She decided to work at a physical therapy clinic in Middletown. During her four years there, police officers would frequent the clinic and Poplawski would talk to them about her undergraduate degree. Eventually, they encouraged her to go for it.

Poplawski went on to graduate from the Rhode Island Municipal Police Training Academy and became a patrol officer. She started on the late watch, then moved to the early watch for a few years. After that, Poplawski was promoted to the accreditation office and then to detective in the juvenile division.

During her time as a detective, Newport Out, an organization that aims to make Newport inviting for the LGTBQ+ community, reached out to Poplawski and asked if she would be a resource. Poplawski had many conversations with the community policing unit about how a position could be structured.

“There’s no written rule of what this can or does entail,” Poplawski said. “I’m trying to be a resource for whoever needs police assistance and isn’t comfortable talking to officers in a uniform.”

Poplawski is aware of some reservations the LGTBQ+ community has with police officers because of difficult historical issues. “I hope I can show that although we wear a uniform, we are all human beings,” she said. “We all want to help people, which is why we became police officers.”

In the future, Poplawski hopes to see other departments introduce liaisons for other marginalized communities. “If I help even one person, that’s great,” she said. “And if I can help even more people be comfortable walking into the police station without judgment, then that is the ultimate goal.”

Article written by student writer Morgan Rizzo ’23