Once Again No Leadership at Top of Providence Public Safety: Guest MINDSETTER™ Tom Kenney

Monday, March 09, 2020

Guest MINDSETTER™ Tom Kenney

 

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Commissioner Pare

Well, it’s happened once again. The lack of experience and leadership in Providence has led to another problem that could have been averted with proper management. I have repeatedly rung the alarm over lack of leadership in Providence over the last 8 years or so, particularly in the public safety department, and every time I have been proven right. Pare’s lack of knowledge and narcissistic behavior hurts the fire department much more than it does the police department as the PPD have an experienced and capable leader in Colonel Hugh Clements. The Colonel is in command of his department and although Pare may be in charge of Public Safety the day to day operations, as well as the planning for the future, rest in Clement’s hands.

And as for City Hall, what can I say? I liken our Mayor to Nero, going around playing his fiddle as the Capitol City burns to the ground! While he continues to use his office to support his pet projects – sanctuary city, bike paths, rental bikes, parking meters and giving stations the real problems of the city continue to get worse. Just look at the school system in Providence. He has no desire to oversee public safety and therefore leaves the reins in Pare’s hands with no questions asked - complete and total lack of leadership.

I have written numerous articles in GoLocalProv and Op/Ed’s in the Providence Journal over the years warning of the consequences of the actions of Mayor Elorza and Commissioner Pare – or lack of action.

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They say that hindsight is 20/20. That’s how Pare sees things regarding a fire department he is totally incapable of commanding. We need a leader, a Chief of Department, who has the foresight to lead this department in a capable manner into the next decade and beyond. When it comes to the purchase of fire apparatus this needs to be addressed in a 5 year and 10-year plan, not as the trucks break down on the road. If you take a look at all of my previous posts regarding the Providence Fire Department, Commissioner Pare and Mayor Elorza you’ll see that what I have forecast has indeed played out as stated.

Mayor Elorza continues to dodge questions about the fire department and simply restates his confidence in the Commissioner. On pretty much all of the policies and practices I’ve called out Pare on he immediately states that I’m misleading the public or downright wrong in my assessment. Almost without exception, however, a short time later he institutes plans to address the situation or the facts merely rise to the surface to the point that he cannot lie about them any longer.

Case in fact:

Aug 2015 - Against warnings from Local 799 and myself Commissioner Pare, with the approval of Mayor Elorza, institutes a 56 hour, 3 platoon system to reorganize the PFD’s working schedule designed to save the city millions of dollars in salary and overtime costs.

Early 2017 - The city enters into a deal with Local 799 to change back to a 4 platoon system for the PFD after their reorganization to 3 platoons cost the city over $10 million in “additional” salary and overtime costs in just over a year.

Case in fact:

2016 -  I wrote a GoLocalProv Mindsetter piece stating that the 3 platoon system was doomed to failure and that the PFD was shorthanded by over 100 positions.

2016 - Pare immediately called me out and stated that I was completely wrong and that the PFD was fully staffed.

Early 2017 - Within 6 months or so Pare announced recruiting for the PFD stating that the department was drastically undermanned. Within a year the city hired over 200 new firefighters and have since added another 100 or so.

Case in fact:

January 2020 - Local 799 states that their fire apparatus are too old and in immediate need of replacement. States they are unsafe

January 2020 - Pare states the trucks are safe and that the city has a plan for replacing apparatus but due to budgetary constraints have not at this time.

2/25/20 - Pare acknowledges we need to “escalate” purchase of new fire vehicles

When Pare took over as Commissioner there were 3 Chiefs on duty in the stations responding to emergencies. He changed that to two. After the 3 platoon debacle he changed that to 5 Chiefs responding to emergencies. Which is the correct or safe number of Chiefs in the stations, Mr. Pare?

When he took over there was a Chief of Department and at least 7 or 8 Chiefs in Headquarters doing the necessary work of running the day-to-day operations and planning for the future of the department. Now there are 3 Chiefs and none of them have the authority to make any decisions without his approval. Once again, Mr. Pare, which is the correct or safe number of administrators needed to run the department.

The Providence Fire Department desperately needs new leadership. It cannot continue to protect and serve the citizens of Providence in a safe and capable manner if it remains on its current course.

Tom Kenney

Captain, Retired/PFD

 

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