At a press conference last week, North Providence Mayor Charles Lombardi did not have one of his finer moments. For that matter, neither did some of the top brass in his police department, namely acting police Chief Christopher Pelagio, Acting Deputy Chief Charles Davey, Lieutenant John Anzivino, and Captain Michael Paiva. The recent investigation conducted by Attorney Marc DeSisto demonstrates that these men have the maturity of 12 year olds when it comes to interacting with women on the police force. The mayor is even considering making the appointments of the 2 infantile gents holding the interim positions of chief and deputy chief respectively permanent. Go figure.

The DeSisto report focused on their behavior toward Lt. Diana Perez,the highest ranking female officer in the department’s history. Acting Chief Pelagio sang bars from Sir Mix-a-Lot’s “Baby Got Back”. It is always heartening to see a police chief mimicking a rapper. At the time of the song’s release it created controversy with its outspoken and sexual lyrics about women, leading that bastion of censorship, MTV, to even ban the video. Apparently, the acting police chief has a fetish about women’s buttocks, or at least the Lieutenant’s. It is so heartening to have a superior focus on your body (which, parenthetically, was the anti “message” of the song, which went above Mr. Pelagio’s head).

Then the second in command got into the act and told a detective to wait until the lieutenant returned to the station to install her desk since she has a “wide turn radius”, using his hands to insinuate wide hips and butt. In giving new meaning to the expression “sexist”, Lt. Anzivino “aggressively gestured towards his crotch with both hands” before suggesting that a female candidate sit on his lap for the oral portion of the exam. The boorish Captain Paiva reminded Lieutenant Perez to "wipe front to back” after using the bathroom as she attended a meeting in his office. Mr. DeSisto found that the actions of this juvenile brigade were lewd, inappropriate, and “unwanted”. Another forum will decide whether she has a case for sexual harassment.

Mayor Lombardi ‘explained’ this away by stating that “Interoffice banter is OK and thought to be funny at times when we are all getting along….” He said that the Acting Chief and deputy would be disciplined but couldn’t say what the penalty would be, and, oh, he opined that they could be hired for the posts permanently.
That’s just terrific. Having at the top two boorish men totally undermines the mission statement of the department. It’s right there on the website. The core values include treating all people with the highest regard and respect, professionalism in all areas of duty and integrity through ethical behavior. The North Providence Police department has distinguished itself with one of the first in Rhode Island certifications in a national ranking in the United States. The promotion of these men to permanent positions undermines the fine work of the rank and file cops. It is difficult to imagine the reception Lt. Perez would get if she returns to the force with these two men in charge. For the Mayor to condone this behavior is beneath him as a leader. Hopefully, he’ll show up for his job and finally send a message that such behavior is not tolerated. At present, he is MIA.

Arlene Violet is an attorney and former Rhode Island Attorney General.