Council opts against passing changes to East Providence Police application process

Mayor DaSilva suffers first significant legislative rebuke

By Mike Rego
Posted 2/14/19

EAST PROVIDENCE — The City Council delivered its initial significant rebuke to Mayor Bob DaSilva’s historic fledgling administration as East Providence’s first elected chief executive by tabling his effort to amend an ordinance on the application process for police personnel …

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Council opts against passing changes to East Providence Police application process

Mayor DaSilva suffers first significant legislative rebuke

Posted

EAST PROVIDENCE — The City Council delivered its initial significant rebuke to Mayor Bob DaSilva’s historic fledgling administration as East Providence’s first elected chief executive by tabling his effort to amend an ordinance on the application process for police personnel.

Specifically, first-term Ward 4 representative Ricardo Mourato, who sponsored the original changes to the ordinance, withdrew his backing for the time being at the council’s February 5 meeting and the rest of the group did not take up the issue. Mr. Mourato had previously submitted the amended legislation for first passage at the body’s January 22 gathering.

The mayor was attempting to ease the ordinance on two points. The first would reduce the educational requirements of potential applicants from 60 college credits to a high school diploma or GED equivalent. The second would strip the requirement of applicants to have never been convicted of any “crime,” replacing it with the definitive count of “felony.”

“This process of first passage and second passage, I’m very proud of it. That’s what our democracy is about,” Mr. Mr. Mourato said in explaining his decision to revoke his support.

“We get the feedback from the public. I loved it. Not only did I get feedback from both sides of both opinions, it also opened my eyes to other viewpoints that I didn’t see, which I should have. For example, when one does get charged with a felony quite often that gets reduced to a misdemeanor,” he continued. “I feel with hearing every different side, talking to police department members, talking to just various groups, I feel that people don’t have a problem with changing some of the language. It’s the way we’re going about changing it.”

Of trying to amend the ordinance going forward, Mr. Mourato added, “I feel with this, we need to slow it down on this. We need to bring everyone to the table and have a meaningful dialogue to put forward an ordinance that will stand the test of time. I don’t feel we should be rushing through this, putting a band aid on this ordinance at this point in time. I would like to hear from everyone who has a stake in this. Come to the table and talk and actually have a meaningful dialogue as to how we can move forward with this the proper way.”

The councilman’s comments came after the mayor offered up a passionate rationale for his proposal, saying there is a “serious problems with recruitment” not just in the city or state, but also nationally.

He ran through series of statistics showing the precipitous decline in the numbers of those considering law enforcement as a career.

“We as community should not be putting up road blocks preventing people to apply,” Mr. DaSilva said, while expressing appreciation for Mr. Mourato’s initial backing of the bill though saying it was he, the mayor, who should be taking “any political heat” about the subject.

On the aspect of an applicant’s criminal past, Mr. DaSilva continued, “It’s a fundamental issue of fairness, what’s right, what’s wrong…If a young adult makes a mistake at 18, 19 years of age, and takes a plea because they didn’t know any better or had bad legal representation, they will not have the same opportunity to apply as those who had a case dismissed…It is a fundamental problem with the ordinance.”

On the proposed educational changes, the mayor said the current requirement potentially “closes the door” on suitable candidates and that it puts up “unnecessary road blocks makes no sense.”

He said the 60 college credits could “be in anything, geology” that has “nothing to do with law enforcement.” The mayor, a 25-year veteran of the Pawtucket Police Department, added, “You run risk of not bringing on good, qualified candidates…This isn’t something I just came up with recently. It’s weighed on my mind for years. It’s something I think the system can do better.”

Referencing the less restrictive standards used by the Rhode Island State Police and other municipalities, Mayor DaSilva said, “I do I think you broaden the pool by making these changes, I absolutely do. I think it’s incumbent upon us as elected officials to do what is right and not listen to the chatter or the people with no knowledge about police recruitment or police work at all, influencing you on what you say or how you feel. I feel we would be doing something that has a positive impact.”

Retiring East Providence Police Chief Christopher Parella, admittedly “sitting this one out” as he stepped away from the post last week, still expressed some reservations on the subject.

“I believe in education, firmly. And I believe what we do is a profession,” Chief Parella said.

“I like the idea of people having 60 credits. I under the argument they could have 60 credits in anything, but I think it does matter,” the former chief continued, saying he felt it relevant that applicants would take introductory courses in pertinent subjects like psychology, philosophy, sociology and United State history in pursuit of any major course of study.

“I think those things are vital and it shows me you took a step towards coming here. I see you invested something in the process.”

Chief Parella said he appreciated the financial constraints of some prospects, but noted classes at the Community College of Rhode Island are now free and matriculation there should be given time to show if it has any impact on the numbers of applicants who meet the credit requirement.

“There are people who would be great police officers that don’t have the degree, but I think in 2019, knowing what we know now, I see a difference in the lack of citizen complaints now versus the many from years ago. And I think there’s something to investing something into this before you come here…It show us you want to commit to this.”

On the proposed alterations to the criminal aspect of the ordinance, the chief read directly from a copy of Rhode Island General Law 12-18-3, saying the way in which any charges can be dismissed or that technically aren’t convictions would allow for “a lot of wiggle room.”

He added of the current ordinance, “The way it is, it isn’t broken…I don’t think we’re exclusive. I think we’re in line with 60 percent of the other police departments in the state.”

Of both proposed amendments combined, Chief Parella concluded, “Now, with that being said, I don’t think this isn’t anything we can’t live with, but I want to know you were really interested in this profession.

“But it seems to me like the emphasis is more on the applicant than the agency, and I don’t understand that. I don’t think it would be harmful to the department if you make those changes. I just don’t see the reason why.”

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MIKE REGO

Mike Rego has worked at East Bay Newspapers since 2001, helping the company launch The Westport Shorelines. He soon after became a Sports Editor, spending the next 10-plus years in that role before taking over as editor of The East Providence Post in February of 2012. To contact Mike about The Post or to submit information, suggest story ideas or photo opportunities, etc. in East Providence, email mrego@eastbaymediagroup.com.