Providence FOP Issues Blistering Rebuke of Mayor Elorza’s Leadership
Wednesday, August 04, 2021
The Providence Fraternal Order of Police issued a blistering criticism of Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza's leadership on Tuesday morning. The FOP also criticized the members of the Providence City Council who have called for the defunding of Providence Police's budget.
Six members of the Providence City Council called for defunding in 2020, including now-Lt. Governor Sabina Matos.
In a statement posted to social media, the union wrote:
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTSaturday night only from 11 pm-7 am 150 calls for service, 6 shooting victims, 1 homicide, 3 stabbings, 1 sexual assault and 1 armed robbery.
Defund the police, that'll work. The Mayor nowhere to be found, Commissioner supposedly out playing golf. Lafortune, Kerwin, Miller, all defund/abolish police...completely out of touch with reality.
Providence is getting exactly what they voted for. Does Chicago, Portland, Seattle, ring a bell?
Illegal Atv's terrorizing the city, shootings, stabbings, complete lawlessness running rampant throughout the city. Lack of respect for life, property, and police hands tied by the Mayor and his band of buffoons.
You won't need to defund or abolish police, you won't have any left. Most officers are looking to leave and hiring is down drastically.
A once vibrant city, full of life ..dead at the hands of Elorza, Pare, and a quickly turning progressive council.
#EnoughIsEnough
#SilentMajoritySpeakUp
Council member John Goncalves who represents Fox Point and College Hill (Ward 1) said in an interview in 2020, “I [am] committed to doing that work, to reallocating police funding… towards housing, homelessness, social services, jobs… We’re navigating a very complex political process from a legality perspective it’s hard to do that.”
And, Councilor Helen Anthony who represents Blackstone neighborhood (Ward 2) went on record in 2020, saying, “I am very supportive of reallocation of some of the police funds.”
Also, calling for defunding have been Councilors Nirva LaFortune (Ward 3), Kat Kerwin (Ward 12), and Rachel Miller (Ward 13).
Om Monday afternoon Elorza responded to requests for comment regarding the violence.
“Violence is never the answer and these events do not reflect who we are as a city,” said Providence Mayor Jorge O. Elorza. “After several quiet weeks, our city experienced too many awful incidents of violence this weekend, including the tragic death of a young woman. Any act of violence will not be tolerated and Providence Police are working to identify and hold those responsible for these acts accountable.”
