Some Providence Council Members Call for More Police Staffing, Providence FOP Urges Action

Some Providence Council Members Call for More Police Staffing, Providence FOP Urges Action

On Wednesday, a group of Providence City Council members called for the reinstatement of the Providence Police academy, in light of recent violence in the city. 

The class had previously been delayed by Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza.

"It is clear that the City needs to support a proactive approach to policing," stated City Council Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan.

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

The members calling for a new police academy included Ryan (Ward 5) along with Council President Sabina Matos (Ward 15), Council President Pro Tempore Michael Correia (Ward 6), Majority Whip John Igliozzi (Ward 7), Senior Deputy Majority Leader Nicholas Narducci Jr. (Ward 4), Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11), Councilwoman Carmen Castillo (Ward 8), and Councilman James Taylor (Ward 8).

Those council members who did not sign on for the call for the increased police staffing are: John Goncalves (Ward 1), Helen Anthony (Ward 2), Nirva Lafortune (Ward 3), Pedro Espinal (Ward 10), Kat Kerwin (Ward 12), Rachel Miller (Ward 13), and David Salvatore (Ward 14).

Presently, Providence Police count 420 on duty but the department is authorized for 490.

Police Union Weighs In

In response to the Council members' statement, the Providence FOP’s President Michael Imondi, “We also find it somewhat disheartening and concerning to see that not all members of the City Council feel there is a need for more police presence and proactive policing in their specific areas, compromising the safety of the communities they represent.”

The FOP criticized Elorza for his anti-police comments. “However, with the recent and still-current call by many politicians (including Mayor Elorza and some members of the City Council) and anti-police special interest groups to defund and even abolish our Police Department and police efforts, which have been pushed for several months, we do wonder how this will work out," said the FOP. 

City Council members Miller and Kerwin have repeatedly called for the “defunding” the Providence Police.

“The realization of what defunding police departments will look like, and the very visible lack of support shown to our law enforcement officers and community by some local politicians, has obviously already helped to embolden those with criminal intent to be more brazen and willingly challenge law enforcement authority,” wrote Imondi.

“So, time is of the essence in these requests being made by the City Council of Mayor Elorza. The FOP echoes this call on Mayor Elorza to provide our Police Department with additional necessary funding and to increase the numbers of police officers in our Department, which is necessary to address and defeat the increase in crime in our City and to help keep Providence safe … now and into the future,” added Imondi.

This story was first published 10/14/20 8:28 PM