Mayor Smiley Blocks Providence Police Chief Perez From Speaking Directly to Media
Tuesday, July 18, 2023
For two decades or more, the media could and was encouraged to directly call the Providence Police Chief with questions.
GoLocal can confirm that going back as far as Mayor David Cicilline, through Angel Taveras, and throughout the Jorge Elorza administration's tenure, the media called chiefs Dean Esserman and Hugh Clements directly with questions and for updates.
And before Cicilline was elected Mayor, acting Mayor John Lombardi, now a state Representative and Chief Judge of the Providence Municipal Court, tells GoLocal there was no impediment for the media to call the chief.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTNow, a major policy change.
Mayor Brett Smiley has put the proverbial muzzle on his police chief.
When calling Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez now, he texts back; please call the mayor’s office.
All media calls must be routed through the mayor’s office or the public information officer for the public safety department — who takes direction from the Mayor’s office.
“In the past decade, GoLocal reporters and editors probably spoke with Chiefs Esserman and Clements, now Smiley is trying to block the media from getting information directly from the police,” said GoLocal CEO and co-founder Josh Fenton.
“This is micromanaging and improper interference by the Mayor’s office,” Fenton added. "It is dangerous, police chiefs need to provide critical information."
Smiley has canceled press updates after homicides, a standard policy in the city. To date this year, eight people have been killed. This past week a 17-year-old was killed. Perez refused to respond to questions.
No other city or town in Rhode Island has such a policy.
Smiley’s Administration Cracks Down
The Smiley administration defends the new policy.
"If press members reach out to the Chief, he is going to send the inquiry to Lindsay and I to field, so it would be helpful to just loop us in from the beginning. This is also how we field requests that are directed at the Mayor or department directors, and our goal in both circumstances is to ensure you get holistic and timely answers," said Patricia Socarras, Director of Communications for Smiley.
Smiley has not appointed a Commissioner of Public Safety.
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