William V. Devine

William V. Devine, Sr., 86, of Providence, Rhode Island, passed away peacefully on February 20, 2026. He married Patricia (Mangiante) Devine on September 30, 1961, and together they shared more than 60 years of marriage.

Born in Providence on December 30, 1939, he was the son of the late Edward J. and Gertrude C. (Donahue) Devine. A lifelong resident of Providence, Bill was a graduate of La Salle Academy, Class of 1958, and Roger Williams College. He was a parishioner of St. Augustine Catholic Church.

Bill devoted more than fifty years of his life to law enforcement in the State of Rhode Island. He began his distinguished career with the Providence Police Department in 1964, rising through the ranks to the position of Major. He went on to serve as Chief of Police of the Town of North Providence, and later as Chief of the Bureau of Criminal Identification for the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office.

Throughout his career, Bill was known for his approachable leadership, unwavering integrity, and deep commitment to community service. In recognition of his lifetime of dedicated public service, he was inducted into the La Salle Academy Hall of Fame and received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association in 2025. His legacy reflects professionalism, respect for all, and a steadfast devotion to the communities he served.

Outside of his professional life, Bill was an avid hunter and fisherman who treasured time spent in the outdoors.

In addition to his devoted wife Patricia, he is survived by his son, William V. Devine, Jr. and his wife Kyleen Carpenter; his daughter, Colleen Devine-Carosi and her husband Edward Carosi; his grandchildren, Patrick Devine and his wife Christina Colanduono; and Nina Carosi; and his great-grandchildren, Roman and Vincent Devine; and his sister, Jean M. Duckworth. He was predeceased by his brother, Howard E. Devine, Sr.

Funeral services will be private for the immediate family.