VIDEO: Smiley Defends Funding One Police Class in 1 1/2 Years While Working for Elorza

VIDEO: Smiley Defends Funding One Police Class in 1 1/2 Years While Working for Elorza

Providence Mayoral candidate Brett Smiley held a press conference on Monday to respond to the weekend violence which saw four people shot in the city.

While calling for current police resources to be shifted to address gun crime, Smiley defended funding just one police academy when he served as Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza’s top staffer for two and half years after Elorza was first elected in 2014. 

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In 2012, Providence police levels were already at historic lows under-then Providence Mayor Angel Taveras. 

WATCH THE FULL PRESS CONFERENCE ABOVE

Ideally, police would have an academy every year in order to maintain adequate public safety staffing. 

Smiley, who had run against Elorza in the 2014 Democratic primary before dropping out and then joining the Elorza Administration, said in contrast it “took years” for the Elorza administration to fund another class after Smiley left to work for then-Governor Gina Raimondo. 

“When I served in City Hall in 2015 and 2016, we fully funded the 68th academy of the police department — recruitment started that year that I left and they graduated the following year. The funding was included in both budgets I had an active participation in,” said Smiley on Monday. “It took years for the city to do a new academy. Last year at this time, I held a press conference calling for a new academy and the one immediately following — that response along with the voices of the community was finally heard. I’m committed to consistent recruitment and consistent funding.”

At the press conference, Smiley said he wanted to “reiterate” his priorities as announced at his campaign kick-off last week, which are. 

*Providing the Providence Police with the tools, resources and staff they need
*Rebuilding trust with the Providence Police Department
*Investment in evidence-based and immediate crisis response supports in every neighborhood
*Increasing local partnerships with community-based organizations that show proven success in violence reduction and behavioral health
*Immediate and significant investments in opportunities for youth in the forms of employment, recreation and education

“It’s time to be proactive,” said Smiley. “We know historically crime picks up in the spring and throughout the summer, so before we shatter new records, with respect to gun crime and violent crime in our city, I’m calling on the city today to be proactive.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: Smiley served on Elorza's staff for approximately 18 months, not 30 months as previously states. Smiley did serve as a political advisor prior to Elorza taking office. And, Elorza's campaign fund paid one of Smiley's companies hundreds of thousands of dollars in consulting fees including payments after Smiley joined Raimondo's staff.