Providence Police Getting Outnumbered - ATVs, Gunshots and Melees
GoLocalProv News Team
Providence Police Getting Outnumbered - ATVs, Gunshots and Melees
One of the latest occurred on Sunday morning, when police said they responded to the Temple of Music at Roger Williams Park for a report of shots fired.
The caller reportedly told 911 men in ski masks in a black sedan were firing weapons into the air.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTWhen police arrived, they said they observed approximately 50 vehicles gathered — which then fled the area in what they said was a “reckless” manner toward the City of Cranston.
Newly appointed Police Chief Oscar Perez, who has been with the Providence Police for nearly 30 years, acknowledged that the current staffing level at 419 is far below the 494 the department is authorized to have.
“The ATV incident, we were outnumbered,” said Perez. “And at Billy Taylor Park there was a large group.”
"Overall though, I wouldn't say we're outnumbered," he added.
Perez was referencing the ATV incident in March when two officers went to apprehend a large group of riders of illegal dirt bikes and ATVs gathered at the Cranston line.
Police say that as they attempted to apprehend that rider -- who resisted arrest -- members of the group reportedly came back and surrounded and threatened the two officers on the scene.
One officer drew his department-issued weapon in an attempt to disperse the crowd but did not fire his weapon, said police.
One individual was arrested; the officers' vehicle was reportedly vandalized by the group of riders during the incident.
Last Thursday night, all Providence Police units were called to respond to an incident at Billy Taylor Park on the East Side of Providence for a report of a man with a gun.
According to police, when two officers arrived, a crowd of over 50 people at the basketball court — which they said included known gang members — became combative and required police citywide to be called to the scene.
Multiple officers were reportedly injured in the altercation.
Perez told GoLocal such events “don’t happen” that often, and in the event the city needs additional resources, they can call for mutual aid and assistance from the State Police.
In his thirty years on the force, said Perez, such instances were “abnormal.”
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley is calling for additional resources for the Providence Police Department.
“The mayor has been consistent that he doesn’t think we have the number of officers we need and he supports increasing staffing levels of the police department based upon the needs and the Chief of Police's guidance,” said Patricia Socarras, spokesperson for Smiley.