Elorza, FOP Battle Over Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights

Elorza, FOP Battle Over Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights

On Thursday morning, Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza announced he supports Rhode Island Senate Bill 0773, which calls for the full repeal of the Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights (LEOBOR).

“LEOBOR places unnecessary hurdles on police chiefs’ ability to discipline their members and it limits what information can be made available to the public. I commend the efforts of Sen. Tiara Mack and Rep. Anastasia Williams to improve transparency and accountability in law enforcement agencies,” Elorza said.

The Providence Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #3 promptly fired back at Elorza.

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"It's [disappointing and disheartening] to read Mayor Elorza’s press release stating that he supports Senate Bill 0773 that calls for the full repeal of the Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights," said the FOP. "The Mayor’s position is not only irresponsible and likely politically motivated, but it is a slap in the face of every Police Officer in the State of Rhode Island, including his own Providence Police Officers.”

On Thursday a group of advocates and legislators held a press conference calling on the repeal of the law. 

Providence Police Chief Weighs In

Providence Police Chief Hugh Clements also weighed in -- and broke from the Mayor’s position, telling GoLocal he does not support a full repeal of the statute and has testified before the legislature calling for changes.

The FOP went on to further explain their position. 

“While reasonable modifications to the Rhode Island Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights (“LEOBOR”) may be necessary, a complete repeal of the LEOBOR would, as we have stated in the past, severely erode many of the basic fundamental due process rights currently afforded to Rhode Island Police Officers, which simply ensure a fair and impartial departmental investigation process and, when required, provide fair hearing procedures," said the FOP. "Perhaps Mayor Elorza should acknowledge and pay deference to the work of the committee, made up of civilians and law enforcement representatives, which has been working at the State House to review the LEOBOR, and which has determined that while the LEOBOR may need to be updated and amended, it should not be repealed.”

“Also, the Mayor’s statement that ‘LEOBOR places unnecessary hurdles on police chiefs’ ability to discipline their members' is utterly false and misleading, as the facts over the years clearly show that Police Officers in Rhode Island have been disciplined when necessary and when deserved," the FOP continued. "Perhaps Mayor Elorza should speak to his own Police Chief, and to past Police Chiefs in his own City, who have in fact disciplined Officers, including implementing suspensions, terminating Officers, or facilitating the resignation of Police Officers, who they felt no longer deserved to be Providence Police Officers.

 

FOP Says Elorza Makes False Claims on Crime

The FOP in its statement went on to say that Elorza’s claims on crime are false.

“Despite Mayor Elorza’s past misinformation about crime rates in the City, it should be noted that 2020 saw a marked increase in violence in the City of Providence. There was a 100% increase in shooting victims alone, and homicides also increased. Moreover, the bulk of these violent crimes occurred from June 1 to the end of the year, and homicides were occurring at an alarming rate for the latter part of the year," said the FOP. 

"This increase in crime can be attributed to a number of things, but whether caused by COVID or the results of the severe anti-police climate which still exists, we need our Police Officers more than ever. In 2021, we have already seen the results of the hard work of our men and women of the Providence Police Department, as over 70 firearms have been seized in 2021, double the number seized this time last year, and overall shootings have decreased so far," said the FOP. "However, homicides are unfortunately still considerably higher than the same time last year, as there have already been 7 homicides in 2021 (compared to 1 at this time in 2020). So, again, there is significant work to be done to secure a safer City of Providence, and we need our Police Officers working hard with the support of the Police Administration and the Mayor."