JUDGE SENTENCES SEDOMA TO THE MAXIMUM, 24 YEARS

TIVERTON - The sentencing of former Tiverton Police Detective Sgt. William
A. Sedoma Sr. last week brought closure to a chapter in the department's
history many, including Police Chief George Arruda, would sooner forget. On
a positive note, however, the arrest and conviction of a once-respected
officer provides a warning to those in positions of public trust who would
break the law.

"I would hope this would set an example. If you violate the public trust,
abuse authority and risk fellow policemen's lives, you will pay," Chief
Arruda said.

Last Friday, after two previous postponements, a Federal Court judge
sentenced Mr. Sedoma, who was convicted of multiple counts of drug
conspiracy during a three-week trial last year, to 24 years and five months
in jail. The maximum sentence was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge
Robert E. Keeton who had presided during last year's trial.

The punishment was appropriate and no surprise, said Chief Arruda, who
attended the proceedings along with Tiverton Police Lt. Thomas Kaminski.
Both officers knew Mr. Sedoma well and had testified at his trial in
Federal Court in Boston last year.

"I had expected it," Chief Arruda said. "A federal judge has a limited
amount of discretion. The minimum guideline was 235 months, so I wasn't
shocked."

Since his conviction in late February, 2001, Mr. Sedoma has been held at
the Plymouth County Correctional Facilities in Plymouth, Mass. His
sentencing was delayed when his defense attorney resigned over a money
issue. A second delay came when his new lawyer asked for more time to
prepare the case.

Although Mr. Sedoma did not speak on his own behalf, his attorney, Leslie
Feldman-Rumpler, asked the judge to discredit the testimony of drug dealers
with whom the now 44-year-old detective had been involved. She also
petitioned the court to consider the 18 years he had spent in law enforcement.

But Judge Keeton ignored her pleas. Mr. Sedoma must also pay a $10,000 fine
and be supervised for four years after his release.

However, he will be credited with about 12 months time served, and good
behavior could lessen jail time by 15 percent.