Police & Public Safety
Whether sitting at home, walking to school, strolling through WaterFire or going to work, our city’s residents have the right to feel safe. I am outraged by the recent arrests of officers in the Providence Police Department. These actions have violated the public’s trust and tarnished the reputation of the honorable men and women who work in our police force.
As Mayor, I will not allow the actions of a few to turn back the years of progress our city has made in reducing crime and rebuilding the relationship between the Police Department and the community.
As Mayor, I will:
- Conduct a comprehensive top-to-bottom review of the police department, including the record of the senior leadership and the department’s hiring, promotion and internal affairs policies.
- Appoint a Public Safety Commissioner to coordinate a citywide public safety plan that includes the police department, the fire department and emergency responders.
- Pursue national accreditation for all public safety departments.
- Redouble our commitment to community policing by requiring the Public Safety Commissioner to hold public forums in rotating neighborhoods throughout the city with participation of local community organizations, city councilors and city service personnel.
- Develop and implement a strategy to strengthen civilian oversight of the Providence Police Department that is effective in rebuilding trust with the community.
- Require the Public Safety Commissioner to develop a gang violence intervention strategy working with community groups, clergy, youth organizations, Police Athletic Leagues, local high school police academies and other stakeholders.
- Review and revise the recruitment policies of our public safety departments to ensure that our public safety workforce represents a diverse group of individuals from different backgrounds.
