Esserman Is No Longer Viable in Providence
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
What is the social host law?
Basically, the social host law will fine any adult in RI “who knowingly permits minors to consume alcohol in his or her home.” First-time offenders can be fined up to $1,000 and jailed up to 6 months. The law was passed after a few high-profile incidents in the state.
Obviously, whenever an incident such as this occurs at a law enforcer’s home it raises concerns. If the chief isn’t following the laws how can he enforce them, right? Or if the chief doesn’t have control over his own family how can he run a police department?
Parents should look in the mirror
If we’re going to hold Chief Esserman to this standard, we had better be able to look ourselves in the mirror. Let’s not fool ourselves, many parents host parties for their kids and other kids find out about the party. The uninvited guests may be rowdy, obnoxious, and often bring their own beverage – in this case alcohol – to the party. Don’t we recall when we were kids and we saw this at many a teenage gathering we attended?
In my opinion, Esserman becomes culpable if after recognizing there was underage drinking he allowed it to continue. From GoLocal’s report it does not appear that was the case and he requested the party crashers leave his house once he got wind of the underage drinking. That’s probably what we all would have done in that situation and some of the comments coming from the our-defecation-isn’t-smelly Providence City Council is head-scratching. It’s as if they were simply looking for another reason to pile onto an already troubled Chief.
But is Esserman viable?
And while Esserman is a parent like many of us he’s also the chief law enforcement officer in the city, Commissioner Steven Pare notwithstanding. That means alleged events like this are always up for public debate fair or otherwise. It’s imperative the chief maintain the public’s trust and respect amongst the rank and file policemen in order to perform his position effectively. Unfortunately, the chief has taken quite a number of shots recently and what teenager would dare bring alcohol to a revered police chief? There are many things we did as teens but going to the police chief’s house with beer while he was home and thinking we’d get away with it is not one of them. This alleged incident demonstrates Esserman has lost the respect a chief must have. Therefore, I believe Dean Esserman is no longer viable as the police chief in Providence and that he should resign immediately.
Providence needs new leadership that will have an opportunity to re-establish the relationship between officers and leadership. Providence needs new leadership that doesn’t carry the baggage Esserman is carrying. And lastly, Providence needs a chief not associated with the disgraced Cicilline administration.
No, the allegations of this incident shouldn’t be the direct cause leading to his termination or resignation. Instead this is the last straw in a series of incidents that demonstrate that Esserman no longer commands the respect the chief must have to lead the city’s police force and that a new voice is required in order to meet the city’s law enforcement challenges.
Let’s hope Mayor Tavares can demonstrate the same leadership and willingness to make tough decisions in Esserman’s case as he has done elsewhere in the city.
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Don Roach is a member of the RI Young Republicans and blogs politics, music, life, and everything in between at donroach.org
Comments:
Buc Kner
6:51am on Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Viewed Mr Roach on Lively Experiment this past weekend. He ran "neck & neck" with Joe Paolino as dumbest guest of the week. Pathetic performance, no "VIABLE' solutions just same old"throw the bums out" BUT he will replace them w/other bums devoid of any clue as to resolution of governmental ills.With Joey, you get same old crap, with Roach..you get crap, just packaged different.
Donn Roach
7:08am on Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Buc, so you believe Esserman can continue in his role as police chief?
joe bernstein
8:00am on Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Esserman's track record of questionable behavior makes this issue the last straw.
If this was the first time he did something this stupid,I wouldn't suggest he be removed,but it sure isn't.
Joe Bagori
8:31am on Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Look ouselves in the mirror?
Remember when we were young?
Yeah the good old days when my friends got killed in alcohol fueled car wrecks.
Kids need supervised graduation parties.
Social host law, a folly of the legislature that can't get pensions our youth initiatives correct.
Even a Chief of Police had to banish kids to thier cars with their alcohol under the statute.
I guess he could have called the police to arrest these criminal graduates and brought all the cities excess resources to bear against these heinous criminals.
Man it is the nature of society to celebrate life events, and we have taught our children to break open a cold one and they feel the need to emulate adults at these times. Why can't we supervise them and be sure their parents are giving them a ride home?
It is becasue of the funky law that even a Chief of Police could not wrap good sense around.
Hey and where did the kids get the booze? There are laws in that regard as well.
Good job folks.
Buc Kner
9:21am on Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Mr Roach..not my decision nor yours..its up to Steve Pare & Angel Taveras...sorry to ruin your morning but w/every opinion comes discord..and you certainly have plenty of opinions
Todd B
1:36pm on Wednesday, June 15, 2011
It may not be Roach's decision, but Esserman is a public servant being paid with taxpayer dollars and taxpayers have every right to apply pressure of elected officials. I don't know that Esserman's actions merit firing. Unlike the average citizen, Esserman took an oath to enforce the law and he failed to do so. He knew kids were drinking underage. He let the underage kids leave his property with alcohol. He knew someone provided alcohol to the kids, yet did nothing. Some form of reprimand is in order.
Joyce Bryant
7:04pm on Wednesday, June 15, 2011
When your a parent of teenagers, it's a whole different world. Esserman did the same as most of us would. And let's not forget a reporter was staking out the house for 2 hours because he got a tip of some wrong doing going on. Sounds like a set up.
jb plijyger
7:47am on Thursday, June 16, 2011
But I can go kill the enemy, get married, vote but NO Drinking until 21 - we just ask for trouble
My children will be parented by me not the Legislature
Let the elected persons worry about fixing the roads - I will worry about my children's sobriety
stephanie zhou
10:21am on Saturday, June 18, 2011
you know the old saying 'walk a mile in my shoes' until you are a parent you will not understand.
They are making a mountain out of a mole hill. Slow news day???