NEW: State Police Boosting Presence in Providence Following Murder
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
The Rhode Island State Police has stepped up its presence alongside the Providence Police Department following last week's shooting of 12-year-old Aynis Vargas, GoLocal has learned.
"We have increased the numbers of state police working alongside the city," State Police Superintendent Steven O'Donnell. "We've teamed together with Providence police through the Neighborhood Response Team program for several years, and usually we increase our presence in the summer. In light of recent events, we have increased our numbers."
Last year, the City police force was at its lowest level in two decades, GoLocal reported, with a number of the positions being cut at the top levels. "I can't speak to the City's staffing levels or needs," said O'Donnell.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTDeputy Chief Thomas Oates said in August 2012, “We definitely have less detectives than we have had in a long period of time. It’s a trickle-down effect: when you promote from within you get less bodies at the bottom. Officially, the department says there are 56 sworn detectives. But there are only about 20 people actually doing detective work in today’s department, half as many as there once were—not counting people who are sworn detectives but may have been assigned to other work, according the city source, who said the size of the investigative division is the “worst it’s ever been.”
O'Donnell on State Police in Providence
O'Donnell said he couldn't disclose numbers or locations of where the increased patrols were for safety purposes. "We're not directly involved with this investigation. We're there for visibility. We're always concerned with retaliations."
"Our Lincoln Barracks cover the greater Providence area," continued O'Donnell. "We've got directed patrols to keep an eye on the violence. It's a good program. We're sending a message to the public that we're working together to keep our communities safe."
O'Donnell noted that the state police had similar partnerships in North Providence, and Central Falls.
"Our guys are in and out of the cities every day," said O'Donnell. "You're getting a coordinated effort here."
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