Duty Death: Frank J. Lema Sr. - [Newport]
End of Service: 26/09/2013
By Police1 Staff
NEWPORT, R.I. — A Navy employee driving a Navy vehicle struck and killed a police detective Thursday.
Frank J. Lema Sr. had served as a detective with the Navy Station’s police force for 21 years, according to the Providence Journal.
Lema was also a retired Middletown police captain, according to Turnto10.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Frank’s family during this difficult time. Detective Lema was a highly respected and admired member of our Navy family and he will be sorely missed,” said Captain Douglas Mikatarian, Commanding Officer at Naval Station Newport.
The circumstances of the accident are being investigated by Navy Criminal Investigative Service and the Rhode Island State Police.
According to the Newport Patch, Lema recently had returned to work after he was injured in a motorcycle accident this summer. Janice Lema, his wife of 48 years, was on the motorcycle with him and died from injuries on June 18.