Does Providence Have Too Many Police and Fire - Or Too Few?

Does Providence Have Too Many Police and Fire - Or Too Few?

If Providence moves forward with layoffs for police, it would leave the city with one of the smallest police forces and one of the fastest rising crime rates in the New England area, according to data obtained by GoLocalProv.

GoLocalProv first reported last summer that compared to similar-sized cities in New England, the rate of violent crimes in Providence had gone up between 2007 and 2008. The three other cities surveyed—Worcester, Hartford, and Springfield—all either had decreases, smaller increases, or no change in the same categories (with just one exception).

For example, the overall violent crime rate went up 19.4 percent in Providence while it went down by 8.2 percent in Springfield. It increased in the other cities, but at a slower rate—12.2 percent in Worcester and 6.5 percent in Hartford. (See below chart.)

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Compared on the basis of their police staff, Providence currently has the highest number of officers, but is in the middle of the pack in terms of the ratio of police to population. The layoffs of nearly 80 officers, however, would change that dramatically—shifting Providence to the very bottom of the list.

A similar pattern plays out for firefighters. Providence has one of the largest fire staffs in terms of sheer number, but is in the middle in terms of its ratio to residents. But layoffs of almost 60 firefighters in that department could also knock the city to the bottom. (See below charts for police and fire.)

An attorney for the Providence police union told GoLocalProv the data confirms the union’s argument that the layoffs will be detrimental to public safety. “You can’t cut 20 percent of the department without having a significant impact on public safety—no way,” said Joe Rodio, the chief legal counsel to the union.

The city has said it will be able to maintain the same patrols.

‘If you get raped, take a number … and we’ll get back to you’

But Rodio says it will do that at the expense of gutting vital units and divisions, like the detectives, the crime scene investigators, the narcotic unit, and the gang unit.

“You’re going to have the units with one or two people in them,” Rodio said. “I’m not being coy when I say, ‘If you get raped, take a number, get a rape kit, go to the hospital … and we’ll get back to you in 30 days.”

Rodio said he plans to a file a restraining order on behalf of the union at some point in the next two weeks in an effort to block the layoffs. He said the order will cite a concern for the safety and health of the public.

The situation could get even worse for the Police Department. Over the course of the next year, Providence could lose more officers since roughly 30 of the more senior officers—who would not be laid off—are expected to retire. Including the layoffs, that could cut the force down by nearly a third.

“If that happens, go get a gun permit,” Rodio said.

Spokeswoman: City has no choice on layoffs

A spokeswoman said the city simply has no choice but to proceed with the layoffs—if there are no concessions from the union. “The City is out of one-time fixes and the budget we proposed challenges everyone to share in the sacrifice. Making deep and structural cuts to the budget is the only way to avert total financial collapse,” said Director of Communications Melissa Withers.

She added: “These are the brutal fiscal realities we face. As we manage these necessary but unfortunate personnel reductions, the burden is on us to develop a public safety plan that keeps us out of bankruptcy AND safe from criminals. Unfortunately, we don't have the luxury of picking either/or.”

“I understand the difficult decisions that have to be made. I understand the mayor did not inherit a Powerball ticket with the winning numbers on it,” said Councilman Luis Aponte. But, he added: “We’re making decisions with long-term consequences. … As a long-term proposition, I think we’re being short-sighted.”

Like Rodio, he warns that a reduction in the police force could affect public safety.

“I think it’s a real difficult decision to make right now and after that they’ll be a lot of second-guessing,” Aponte said. “God forbid there’s an incident one Friday night when the nightclubs downtown are closing and there aren’t enough officers to respond.”

Terry Hassett, the president pro tempore of the council, largely agreed. “I have been concerned about the layoff option from the very beginning because I think it will be detrimental to the safety of the city,” Hassett said. But, he insisted he strongly believes that both the union and the city can agree to the necessary $6 million in concessions needed to avert layoffs.

It’s not yet clear whether layoffs in the Fire Department would also impact public safety, according to Paul Doughty, president of the city firefighter union.

But Aponte warns that layoffs could have an adverse impact on the budget—causing overtime to go up. He also worries that there will be a potential for more on-the-job injuries with fewer firefighters working longer hours each week.

Providence data doesn’t tell whole story

Rodio maintains that the only way to save money is through an incentive for early retirement before the new fiscal year. He said that would bring the force down to just under 440 officers—a cut which he said can be absorbed without significantly affecting public safety. “You go much beyond that, you’re in trouble,” Rodio said.

Even without layoffs, he said the Providence police force is “dead last” in rankings of city police forces when its manpower is compared with the volume of crimes and population in the city. Although the other cities in GoLocalProv survey were roughly around the same size, Rodio said Providence’s population over the course of a day is actually double the number of residents—approximately 400,000.

With the exception of Boston, Rodio said Providence has the most nightlife traffic of any city in the region. And, as a city state, it also draws a high volume of daytime traffic, he added.

As a result, well over 25 percent of all crimes in the state occur in the capital city, according to Rodio. “Providence police officers respond to more crimes per person … [than] the next highest responding person in the State of Rhode Island,” Rodio said.

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