Is McKee Playing Politics Over Public Safety in Providence
Thursday, July 15, 2021
On Tuesday, Governor Dan McKee released copies of letters he had sent to Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza offering additional public safety support via the Rhode Island State Police.
In McKee's second letter to Elorza, the Governor wrote, ‘As mentioned in my last communication, the Neighborhood Response Team is a federally funded program that has been successfully engaged in previous years to help curb violence and protect communities. The Neighborhood Response Team's resources would help address and prevent further violence through community-based mitigation strategies.”
McKee, who was elevated to the governorship when now-U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo was appointed by President Joe Biden, is expected to face Elorza in the Democratic primary in 2021.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTWhile McKee went public and claimed that Elorza had not responded to his letters, Colonel James Manni of the Rhode Island State Police said that he has spoken to both Providence Public Safety Commissioner Steven Pare and Colonel Hugh Clements.
Manni said, “I have spoken to both Commissioner Pare and Colonel Clements and we are cooperatively working on a plan. We have federal dollars to be able to fund additional resources.”
Specifically, the federally funded Neighborhood Response team program will allow the State Police to fund overtime patrols in Providence to augment the Providence Police staffing.
While Manni says the discussion is progressing, the Governor’s press spokeswoman, Alana O’Hare, said, “The Governor has asked the Colonel to keep this resource as an option for Providence, and to reiterate, believes that there must be buy-in from city leadership in order for the program to be successful.”
Short Staffed and Spiraling Crime
“We have always strategized with the Rhode Island State Police on how to reduce gun violence, but there is no empirical data that when the NRT are deployed in Providence it has any positive impact. It actually may take key resources away because we have to spend time integrated, said Clements in an interview with GoLocal.
“When we have a full complement after the Providence Police Academy Class graduates on November 6, we will have more critical resources,” added Clements.
Further, Clements pointed out that NRT had been deployed a number of times in the past in coordination with the State Police under both Colonel Brendan Doherty and Steve O’Donnell and he did not believe it had any significant impact.
In response to a melee on Sayles Street two weeks ago, Providence Police were forced to deploy all available officers to break up the fights that lasted for approximately three hours.
As the melee raged on, there was no available police to respond to calls in the rest of the city.
In 2021, Providence has seen wave after wave of deadly violence.
The past ten days have seen a 14-year-old girl shot and 19 and 20-year-old men were murdered.
To date, Providence has recorded 12 homicides this year.
Related Articles
- Man in Body Armor Found in Possession of Gun During Traffic Stop, According to Providence Police
- NEW: Suspected Serial Rapist in Providence Police Custody
- Guarding the Gang Member - Providence Police Officer Mica Waters
- Providence Police Make Two Firearms Arrests in 48 Hours
- NEW: Providence Police Apprehend Three Suspects in April Homicide on Atlantic Avenue
- VIDEO: Providence Police Charge Multiple Men In Carolina Ave Shootout
- Providence Police Seize Firearms, Make Arrests During Weekend Violence
- Providence Police: Arrest in Last Thursday’s Homicide; Arrest Warrant for Auto Repair Shop Murder
- NEW: Providence Police Investigating Shots Fired Off Atwells Avenue Overnight
- VIDEO: Body Cam Footage Released by Providence Police After Man Dies in Custody
- Attempted Bank Robbery at Citizens Bank on Academy Ave - Providence Police Investigating
- Providence Police Arrest Man Carrying Stolen Gun With Extended Magazine Containing 31 Rounds
- Retired Providence Police Officer, Albert L. Ferrazza, Passes at 91
- VIDEO: Providence Police Release Body Cam Footage of Sayles Street Melee
- FBI, Providence, North Providence Police Raid Multiple Locations in Possible Prostitution Sting
- VIDEO: Pepper Spray “Used According to Policy,” Say Providence Police Following Melee
- 14-Year-Old Girl Shot on July 4th Evening by 3 Masked Men, According to Providence Police
- Providence Police Seek Man Who Dragged Ex-Girfriend by Car
- Providence Police Officer Charged With Shoplifting in Warwick — Placed on Suspension
- North Providence Police Arrest Individual Wanted for Shooting
- Providence Police Arrest Real Estate Exec in East Side “Porch Pirate” Case
- Retired Providence Police & RIC Police Officer, Roy F. Clements, Sr., Dies at 84
- Providence Police Officer Taken to Hospital After Responding to Large Street Fight on Federal Hill
- Providence Police Seize Guns From Victims of Prior Shootings
- UPDATED: Providence Police Identify 20-Year-Old Man Killed in 2nd Murder of the Week
