Providence Police “Major” Controversy - 10 More Council Members Call on Elorza to Reclassify Role

Providence Police “Major” Controversy - 10 More Council Members Call on Elorza to Reclassify Role

Providence City Council President John Igliozzi was joined by ten other Council colleagues on Wednesday urging Mayor Jorge Elorza to work with the Council to reclassify the Community Relations and Diversion Services Police Major.

The officials want the new position to be a Public Safety Community-Police Liaison - and to clarify that the new role is a civilian one. 

As GoLocal was first to report last Friday, Providence Recreation Director Mike Stephens was being named to the city’s newly created "Community Relations and Diversion Services" Major position in the Providence Police Department — which the city confirmed that afternoon. 

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Now, ten council members have joined Igliozzi calling on Elorza to reclassify the position. Stephens has no law enforcement background or experience. 

See Council Letter Below

As GoLocal reported on Monday, the growing controversy over the appointment Stephens to serve in the rank of major in the Providence Police Department took another twist when one of the leading national minority police officers groups criticized the appointment by Elorza of Stephens to the rank of major as a non-police trained civilian.

“The open letter also notes that the Council is prepared to authorize a new Police Major position to provide a much-needed opportunity for a minority police officer to rise within the department’s ranks,” said the Providence City Council members in the release on Wednesday. “Today, the budget ordinances will be reintroduced to rename the new position and clarify its scope and role, and to create a new Police Major position."

The following letter was signed by Council Member John Igliozzi, was co-signed by council members Pedro Espinal, James Taylor, Nicholas Narducci, Mary Kay Harris, Carmen Castillo, Michael Correia, John Goncalves, Jo-Ann Ryan, David Salvatore, and Oscar Vargas.

Letter to Elorza

September 8, 2021

The Honorable Jorge O. Elorza Mayor
City of Providence
25 Dorrance Street Providence, RI 02903

Dear Mayor Elorza:
We are writing to you regarding the recent appointment of a Community Relations and Diversion Services Major within the Providence Police Department.

The City Council strongly supported the creation of this new position, and included funding for it in the FY 2022 budget. The position was presented to the Council as a means to build bridges between our police force and community, while simultaneously creating a promotional opportunity for a minority officer to move up the ranks in the police department.

Your appointment last week of Director of Parks and Recreation, Michael Stephens, to the Police Major position means that the position will be filled by an individual who has a record of service to the community, but no law enforcement experience. Therefore, the scope and construct of this this key position must be modified to clarify the authority, duties and responsibilities of this new role.

We urge you to work with the City Council to amend the title—for example, to “Public Safety Community-Police Liaison”—and clarify the parameters of the job. Additionally, we will create a new Police Major position to provide a much-needed opportunity for a minority police officer to rise in the department’s ranks. 

To that end, we will be resubmitting the classification and compensation ordinances to evaluate the appropriate adjustments.

We look forward to hearing from you. 

Sincerely,

John J. Igliozzi Council President
Cc: Commissioner Steven Pare Colonel Hugh Clements
Providence City Council