Editor's Note: This is first of two stories on Chris Parella's first year as EPPD chief.

EAST PROVIDENCE — It's been a bit of a whirlwind first year on the job for East Providence Police Chief Christopher Parella, the gregarious and earnest leader of the department.

He was named interim chief on July 1 of 2014 and then permanent chief a month later on August 1. In that time events both national and local, from murders in city to the unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, have had a direct effect on how he's trying to reshape the EPPD.

Chief Parella joined the East Providence Police force on November 27, 1990 from the Charlestown (R.I.) Police Department. He is about to enter his 26th year on the job in the city where he has called home throughout the same period.

"It's been an extremely busy year," Chief Parella said during a recent interview in his office at the EPPD's Waterman Avenue headquarters, remembering his arm was in a sling from recent shoulder surgery and he would also have knee surgery in the early days of his tenure.

"It started with the (Yusef) A'Vant murder in August of last year and with us trying to make some significant changes," the chief continued. "We've made a number of changes in terms of scheduling and manpower. We've made had a number of promotions. We have a number of projects going on in and around the station, all of which are being paid for through asset forfeiture money. We've made changes to the command staff. We've had to settle some cases. In all honesty, it's taken every bit of mental energy I have to get these things done."

Chief Parella was quick to point out, the accomplishments made in the department over the last year-plus were not his alone. He said he's received ample support and input from his officers, the EPPD administrative assistants, city administrators and politicians and IBPO union leaders.

"We had the contract negotiations for the first three months, and that was all consuming," Chief Parella said. "We were able to make substantial changes in our organizational structure. And without the support of the city manager (Paul Lemont) we never would have been able to get it done. And I have to make a point of mentioning the union representatives for their cooperation throughout the process. Without them, we couldn't have made these big organizational changes."

Besides the contract, which the chief said comes with significant savings to the department and city, he also mentioned the change in schedule to a platoon system, where officers and their supervisors now have more structure in their duties.

"The guys now have permanent shifts, beats and supervisors," Chief Parella explained. "There's much, much more continuity and familiarity with their beats, the community and people we serve. A lot of that work was done by command staff, which was very important."

Deputy Chief and Major William Nebus, Detective Commander and Captain Richard Frazier, Captain and Patrol Commander Michael David and Captain and Services Commander Bruce Kidman comprise the new EPPD command staff. The chief also noted the efforts of his lieutenants — Internal Affairs, Craig Fournier; detectives Ray Blinn; planning and training, Jim Nelson; and projects, Mark Cadorat.

"The command staff has really come together," the chief continued. "We've changed entirely the way we function on a day-to-day basis. We made a big change in ending the Community Policing Unit at a big savings and that helped in the contract negotiations.

"Community policing is a concept, really, and that concept is best served if it's done department-wide as opposed to a small group of officers. We've made a point on the front lines to be committed to the initiative. Our officers who cover those beats are going to the libraries, to city hall, to the schools. They're going to events and meeting the residents. That, to me, is the idea of community policing."

Chief Parella said the biggest obstacle for his department to improve moving forward remains manpower. Currently, 93 officers are on the job and six more rookies are training in the academy. Chief Parella said the budgeted strength of the department should be 103 officers. His personal ideal total would be 106 officers.

"We're a young department and we're only going to get younger," the chief said. "We need our experienced officers to nurture and bring them up the right way. The downside of being young is the inexperience. But we also have the opportunity to mold these kids they way we want to."

Chief Parella expressed his satisfaction with a number of other aspects of the department. He is pleased with the on-going development of Active Shooter Response tactical program, the Vice Unit's continued efforts in countering the impact of drugs and other contraband in the city, the EPPD's outreach in recruiting and communications with the minority community, and the equipment (new rifles, guns and computers for officers) and infrastructure upgrades made to headquarters over the past 12 months.

"It's unbelievable what we've accomplished in the last year, but we're far from done," Chief Parella added. "Organizationally, we're rock solid, but we definitely have work to do. We need to do a better job with our statistics. Our overall quality control, we can make it better. But organizationally, we're rock solid. I'm very pleased with everything that is going on around here. Things are really starting to come together."