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Angel Taveras Announces Plan for Public Safety and Policing

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PRESS RELEASE
August 18, 2010

Contact: Lauren Nocera | Lauren@AngelForProvidence.com | 401-529-9684 

PROVIDENCE - Providence Democratic Mayoral Candidate Angel Taveras today released his plan to reduce crime, increase public safety and to ensure police accountability in the capital city.

"Whether sitting at home, walking to school, strolling through WaterFire or going to work, our city’s residents have the right to feel safe," said Taveras.  "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." 

Angel's public safety plan includes the following action steps that he will take as Mayor:
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Pursue national accreditation for all public safety departments.
  • 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.
In developing this public safety plan, Angel convened a public safety policy council that included former State Police Col. Steven Pare, Providence Police Chief Richard Sullivan and Norman Orodenker, a member of the United States Civil Rights Advisory Commission for Rhode Island.

"By focusing on a strong community policing model, Angel's public safety plan will continue to drive down crime," said Pare.  "In addition, Angel's plan recognizes the importances of strategic community partnerships and diversity in lowering crime and increasing public safety." 

In the first five months after announcing his campaign for Mayor, Angel Taveras has built a wide-ranging coalition of supporters including State Senator Juan Pichardo, State Senator Rhoda Perry, State Representative Edith Ajello, State Representative Grace Diaz, City Councilman Kevin Jackson, City Councilman Cliff Wood, City Councilman Leon Tejada, the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 328, the RI Latino Political Action Committee, Clean Water Action, Meeting St. CEO John Kelly, Drinking Liberally founder Chris Blazejewski, attorney Casby Harrison, former US Attorney Meg Curran, attorney Kas DeCarvalho, youth jobs leader Andrew Cortes, community leader Jim Vincent, former Common Cause director Phil West, activist Tomas Avila, Ward 9 Democratic chairman Russell Conway, veteran political leader Victor Capellan, and previous gubernatorial candidate and former state senator Myrth York.

More information: http://angelforprovidence.com/en/issues/police-a-public-safety.html

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