Two Weeks in Providence: Murder, Murder, Murder, Murder, Murder

Friday, August 21, 2020

GoLocalProv News Team

 

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Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza

The past two weeks in Providence have been some of the deadliest on record. In the past two weeks, five deadly shootings.

Thursday’s shooting was the tenth murder of the year and the ninth since the end of June.

Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza has made no comments addressing the rash of murders.

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Latest Homicide

Thursday night’s victim is a 29-year-old man. The name has not been released.

"A man was shot at 25 Tobey Street Thursday night — and passed away at Rhode Island Hospital Friday morning," said Major David Lapatin. 

“We’re seeing a lot of guns on the street,” Lapatin told GoLocal, when asked about the uptick in violence. 

He said most of the homicides have been “isolated incidents,” but that one or two “could be related to gang activity.”

Lapatin is expected to address the press at 11 AM on Friday -- a now regular occurrence. 

Battle Over Future of Department

During the past few months, Elorza as well as some members of the Providence City Council have attacked the Providence Police Department.

Councilors Rachel Miller and Kat Kerwin have championed the “defund the police” movement in Providence.

Elorza has refused to endorse or dismiss the 'defund' efforts, and in June, Elorza told GoLocal that he supports the #8CantWait campaign — an effort to reform police policies including duty to intervene, ban shooting at moving vehicles, and ban chokeholds and strangleholds.

Elorza did not, however, respond to whether he supports the defund police movement -- or not. 

The national #8CantWait group issued an apology, in light of the calls to defund policy. 

"While we are proud of the impact we were able to make, we at Campaign Zero acknowledge that, even with the best of intentions, the #8CANTWAIT campaign unintentionally detracted from efforts of fellow organizers invested in paradigmatic shifts that are newly possible in this moment. For this we apologize wholeheartedly, and without reservation," wrote the group on their page. 

Since June, there has been a riot that damaged dozens of Providence businesses and the burning of a Providence police vehicle, a racial incident between Providence police officers and a firefighter, and the ongoing series of deadly shootings.

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Elorza and Pare at shooting PHOTO: GoLocal File

Complete Decay of Relationship Between Police and Elorza's Administration

Since the debate began on the future of policing in Providence, the relationship between Elorza and the Providence Police Union - Providence FOP 3 - has deteriorated, as the union voted "no confidence" in both Elorza and Public Safety Commissioner Steven Pare.

“In Providence, Mayor Elorza and some city council members would like you to believe that we can still effectively control crime in the city with less manpower and a more severely reduced Police Department budget, by further defunding and reducing our already depleted Police Department. Worse, extremist City councilwoman Kerwin believes that we don't even need our Police Department,” said Michael Imondi, President of the FOP in a statement on Wednesday night, following the city's ninth homicide. 

“The uptick in crime rates and homicides in the City of Providence should come as no surprise. Providence is now no different from other cities around the country that are handcuffing police departments by listening to the anti-police/defund-the-police/abolish the police movements being loudly pushed by the vocal extremists who do not represent the vast majority of Americans. These movements have emboldened criminals and those who want to break the laws and create chaos and anarchy, leaving the police undermanned and unable to keep up with crime waves in many instances," said Imondi.

In recent days Councilors Carmen Castillo and Nicholas Narducci have defended the Providence Police.

On Wednesday, Narducci said, "The constituents that I have spoken to are outraged that there is even a call to defund the police, and I agree. No one is critical of increased training around cultural competency and/or anti-discrimination training - that is not only reasonable but warranted in a multi-cultural city like Providence."

Castillo said, "My neighborhood needs more police officers, not less. I pledge to examine the budget and see areas where we could eliminate unnecessary costs and redirect them to affordable housing and education. Having said that, I sincerely believe that we need to fund our police department so that they can do their job safely. The area south of Providence is diverse and beautiful, but crime and violence remain a problem. As Councilwoman for Ward 9, I am committed to protecting the quality of life of my neighbors, and that means supporting public safety.”

 

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