Ep. 6: Vin Carlone- The Chief of Police Stands His Ground

"It's only an island if you look at it from the water". Amity Island's Police Chief Brody from the movie JAWS had his own way of rationalizing the insanity that can come with being the man in charge on a small rock surrounded by water. In the game-changing 1976 Blockbuster we're treated to a thumbnail sketch of some of the more mundane aspects of an island Police Chief's life. Block Island's Chief of Police, Vin Carlone, has a full plate as well. And while he hasn't had to hunt down a man-eating Great White Shark...yet, that task might seem more appealing (and possibly easier) than attending a Town Council meeting.Imagine being responsible for keeping the peace on an island where the summertime population can swell to over 20,000 people all looking for a good time. Keep in mind- everyone's definition of a "good time" is different.He has only 6 full-time officers to cover the beat. Even with an additional 6-7 auxiliary summertime officers (all retired cops over the age of 50) brought in to help during the peak season it's an impossible task. One would have to possess superhuman strength to handle it all. And the Chief is indeed strong- both physically and mentally. But every man has his limits. And Vin Carlone at the end of the day is not a superhero. He is but a man. A man who oftentimes finds himself at ideological odds with those he has sworn to protect. His relationship with the residents of Block Island can be complicated.But his feelings about Block Island are not. He loves this place. The headaches associated with being the Chief in a small town are far outweighed by the benefits of existing in such a close-knit community.In Episode Six we dive right in with Chief Vin Carlone, discussing how his tenure as head of the Detective Division across the water in Narragansett prepared him to deal with Block Island's seasonal quirks. Lessons that Vin learned in Narragansett were applied here in order to turn the tide on Block Island's reputation as "the place where anything goes".Marc recounts his first meeting with Vin and how that meeting led to a long partnership between Block Island's nightlife establishments and the Police force in an effort to reel in what some felt was an "out of control" party scene. But what exactly makes Chief Carlone tick? Rich and Marc explore the psyche of a veteran law enforcement official and discover that what can be misconstrued as a hard-boiled exterior is oftentimes a necessity rather than a choice. Vin explains the need to compartmentalize certain aspects of his job in order to maintain some semblance of normalcy in day to day life. Fair warning- the conversation gets heavy at times.Yet for all the good our Chief of Police has done for the community, it can be a thankless job. Vin discusses how he deals with the feeling that some of his efforts aren't necessarily appreciated. Spoiler alert- he doesn't. Chief Carlone sticks to his assertion that it's better to present the facts, accept what may be undue criticism and be disliked rather than play the politician in an attempt to make everyone happy.It's not all doom and gloom though. There's plenty of comedic relief that comes with the job. In one example, Vin recounts the story of an inebriated,  birthday suit-clad individual who makes multiple bad decisions over the course of the tale.So hop in the passenger seat as we ride along with Vin Carlone, Block Island's Chief of Police. Don't make us hit you with the taser! Even if we have to slap the cuffs on ya'- reach  up and hit "play", Cap'!