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UPDATED: Providence in crisis: Mayors of Cranston, Johnston, Pawtucket, Warwick – City Councilors – FOP speak out on lawlessness
UPDATE: The Providence Police have arrested Shyanne Boisvert for the assault on the female driver in Providence. Boisvert was on probation for charges related to an ATV incident on Atwood Avenue in Cranston this summer, where drivers boxed in an SUV driver and a police officer was injured. Boisvert was charged with simple assault and disorderly conduct – more arrests are expected.
A dramatic day of public statements followed a violent incident in Providence when a woman was dragged from her car and beaten by a group of approximately 10 ATV/dirt bike riders, while her 8 year old child was in the car. That follows the drive-by killing of a young woman caught in what has been said to be a shooting of rival gangs, on a night that saw 5 shootings, and 4 stabbings within a few hours.
First up with a public statement followed by a radio interview on WPRO’s morning Tara Granahan Show was Cranston Mayor Hopkins. Hopkins, in addition to the issue of “Crime Creep”, also called Mayor Elorza a bully for trying to eliminate Cranston’s part of the Workforce Development Group, shared with Providence, and funded with millions of dollars. Hopkins noted that the Cranston seat on the staff, held by Sean Holley, had been inexplicably locked out of his office. Workforce is run by director Steve Boyle, who holds the managing Providence seat and was previously director of the Cranston Chamber of Commerce, which closed under unexplained circumstances.
After Mayor Hopkins statement it was a day of one press release after the other as mayors responded to inquiries and city councilors took the initiative to contact the press:
Cranston Mayor Kenneth J. Hopkins: Mayor Hopkins today expressed continued support of the Cranston Police Department and the critical efforts to protect Cranston neighborhoods and streets.
“In light of the disturbing increase in violent crime in the neighboring City of Providence, we must increase our vigilance and police resources,” said Hopkins, [I will] “continue to support and provide the needed tools for Cranston police officers on the front line.”
Mayor Hopkins stated, “We are grateful to our police officers for their dedication, vigilance, and outreach work in our Cranston community,” said Hopkins. “Unfortunately, in the neighboring capital city, many brave men and women in blue are limited in resources and remain without executive support from their elected officials. This lack of leadership leads to a sense of lawlessness, inciting violence on neighboring city streets and heinous violent crimes. I will not let this lawlessness cross into our Cranston borders,” emphasized Hopkins.
In sharp contrast, Cranston continues to be a safe and lawful community, with July’s violent crime rate decreasing for a fourth consecutive year. Mayor Hopkins regularly meets with Colonel Michael Winquist and the police leadership has recently invested in new technologies and equipment to prevent and investigate potential crimes. Cranston Police will continue to work collaboratively with neighboring police departments.
Hopkins continued, “I believe that the greatest responsibility of a municipal chief executive is to keep its citizens safe. I will never tie the hands of our public safety officials and I will continue to fully fund and support the police in their important work. Cranston neighborhoods, homes, and businesses will continue to be safely protected by a department that balances difficult challenges with bravery and compassion.”
Hopkins concluded, “While some in public office wish to divert resources from local police departments, I will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with the men and women of Cranston’s public safety providers.”
Later in a radio interview with Dan Yorke on WPRO, Cranston Police Chief Winquist noted the understandable poor morale among the Providence police.
Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena
“I fully support our Police Department. I would never support defunding the police. In Johnston, we let them do their jobs. We’ve had unmarked cars on the border line with Providence and if we see something out of the ordinary, we pay attention to that.
We have seen some ATVs coming off 295 to Plainfield Pike and we followed them, but they were going right to Providence. It is illegal for them to be on the roads and in Johnston we don’t tolerate any lawlessness. We aren’t ‘politically correct’ – we enforce the laws.”
Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien
“The City of Pawtucket, with support of the Pawtucket City Council, continues to invest in public safety as a top priority for the residents of our city. Our residents and business owners deserve nothing less.
Pawtucket is an urban district where our Police Department continues to reinvest and focus on training and community needs. Every community faces similar challenges, but the differences are apparent in our community leadership styles. There will always be differences from community to community, but we need to work together to ensure all municipalities are protected.
Other municipalities feel the pressure when a city like Providence makes decisions seemingly independently, however, these decisions impact other communities especially when it is regarding public safety services and mutual aid obligations.
Through our Public Safety Director/Police Chief Tina Goncalves, the Police Department continues to improve its Neighborhood Response Unit, Non-Violence initiatives, community engagement and grass roots enforcement to protect our community. Our residents deserve to be and feel safe. These are challenging times and the ability to be safe is critical to every aspect of our lives, from our personal happiness, to our children’s ability to grow and learn, and our economic growth and tourism.
There is nothing more important in local government than providing for the public safety of our community. Here in Pawtucket, we have full faith in the Pawtucket Police Department and the leadership of Chief Tina Goncalves.
Our Police Department works diligently to keep our city safe. They face many challenges, and we cannot afford for these challenges to be exacerbated by lawlessness in other communities. The Pawtucket Police Department will always work to better serve our diverse community. All residents expect and deserve to be safe. Anyone who fails to keep the public safe will have to reflect and face the community both locally and statewide. We have an obligation as leaders to lead.”
Warwick Mayor Frank J. Picozzi
“In Warwick, our police department serves the people of this community with dedication, professionalism and passion. My administration works and completely supports our department and I provide them with the needed resources and should the demand for additional resources becomes necessary, I will work to supply them.”
North Providence Mayor Lombardi – no statement received by publication time
Mayor Lombardi did go on WPRO with Gene Valicenti and said, “we’re not going to tolerate this – he is meeting with Fire & Police officials this morning. It’s not going to happen here. Fire sprays have proven to be effective.” Also talked about over 390 runs from city rescue last year – and they will be reviewing the mutual aid policy, payment for runs that are not mutual aid by definition.
Providence City Council
Council President John J. Igliozzi:
“The report of a mother being ripped from her car and attacked by a mob of ATV and dirt bike riders, while her young child was in the car, is deeply disturbing, and yet another example of the completely unacceptable wave of violent crime we have seen in our city in recent weeks. Incidents like this–a mother driving her car on a weeknight and being attacked at random–cut to the very core of public safety. Put simply, too many Providence residents do not feel safe as our city is experiencing this surge in violent crime.
“As Council President, I am committed to taking both immediate and longer-term actions to stop this crime wave in its tracks. I strongly support Governor McKee’s call to allow the Rhode Island State Police to coordinate with the Providence Police Department to provide additional resources and foot patrols. This should happen immediately.
“I agree with Councilman Salvatore’s call to hold a special session of the City Council to immediately begin to tackle this public safety emergency. I will be scheduling a special Council as a Whole meeting early next week to urgently address this unacceptable outbreak of violent crime. I look forward to hearing from Public Safety Commissioner Pare and Police Chief Clements on the action plan.
“Additionally, Finance Chairwoman Jo-Ann Ryan and I will work with our Council colleagues to include funding for an additional Police Academy in the 2022-23 budget. We must get our Providence Police force back to the 500 full-time officers needed to fully reimplement community policing. This must happen as quickly as possible, and that is why I am also calling on Mayor Elorza to immediately begin recruitment for the next Police Academy, which was approved in our most recent budget. We need more police on the streets, interacting with our residents, business owners, and community groups to prevent these types of horrific, random crimes.
“Finally, the City of Providence has over $100 million in American Rescue Plan Act dollars available. I believe that it is appropriate to immediately develop a plan to use some of these funds for a significant investment in the public safety infrastructure and diversion efforts of our city.”\
Jo-Ann Ryan, Council Finance Chair: “Last night’s attack on a motorist by individuals illegally riding ATVs on Providence streets is horrifying. I am once again calling on the Mayor to give the police department the resources it needs to enforce City ordinances and get these vehicles off our roads. The threat to public safety could not be more clear. Our residents are fearful and are being endangered and it is past the time for words; we need action from the administration. The mayor has to use all the tools we have at our disposal, which means full commitment to community policing and accepting the offer of assistance from the State Police.”
David Salvatore, Councilman, Ward 14, Providence City Council
I was horrified to hear reports that at 6 A.M. this morning, a woman was pulled from her car and beaten by ATV riders while her eight-year-old child was in the car with her. As a husband, father and resident of Providence, this news is disturbing and deeply unsettling.
Firstly, the victim and her family are in my prayers. I have been in contact with Commander Verdi and he assures me the Police Department is working swiftly to apprehend the individuals who committed this heinous act of violence.
I am calling on my council colleagues to suspend our August recess to convene an emergency City Council as a Whole meeting.
I am calling on Mayor Elorza, Commissioner Pare and the Providence Police Department to join us to discuss their plan to address the violence in our city, which has become an out of control, almost daily threat to the safety of our residents.
As local leaders, we owe it to our community to create systems which ensure that our city is a safe place to live and work. A woman driving in her car with her infant child should not have to fear being a victim of brutal physical violence.
The gun violence, the physical attacks and reckless behavior of individuals in our city have resulted in grief, loss, and fear in our community. It is time for the city to take decisive action to put a stop to this senseless violence and better serve the people trying to make a home in the city of Providence.
John Goncalves, Councilman, Ward 1, Providence City Council: “The terrifying and senseless act of violence that took place this morning is a wake-up call to local leaders that we must act immediately to protect the residents of our city.
In the past week alone, two innocent young women have been the victims of brutal violence on our city streets. I strongly support my City Council colleague, Councilor David Salvatore and urge my colleagues to suspend August recess for an emergency meeting.
The City Council must meet with Mayor Elorza, Commissioner Pare and the Police Department to ensure that any and all steps are being taken to protect residents in our city from the gun violence and dangerous behavior that has been plaguing our city streets.
It is our responsibility to face these matters head on and make critical changes to stop the cycle of any violence that is endangering the community and the residents of our city.
Councilman Nicholas J. Narducci Jr. Regarding Violence in City of Providence
I am appalled by the overwhelming surge of violence that has taken over our city. It has gotten to the point where everyday citizens do not feel safe walking on the street or even driving in their cars.
For years, I have been calling on the Mayoral administration and my council colleagues to support our police force. We must give the police the tools they need to keep our city safe, and we must fund another police academy as soon as possible.
Without a robust and well-prepared police force, who will residents call when they are they victims of or witnesses to the violent crimes constantly occurring in our city?
The City Council has instituted ordinances that are meant to keep ATVs off of our streets. The City must enforce these laws to finally remove these dangerous and illegal vehicles from the streets. The safety of drivers, pedestrians and innocent bystanders are seriously at risk. The City has the legal groundwork to put a stop to this, yet the problem persists because the laws are not enforced.
Providence residents should not be forced to live in constant fear of violence, crime and reckless behavior. I am calling on the City and my Council colleagues to join me in supporting the expansion of law enforcement by increasing our police force and more strictly enforcing City laws intended to keep residents safe. How many more injuries, how many more violent crimes, how many more lives have to be lost, before change is made? We must act now.
Providence FOP Lodge 3:
“Yesterday, a woman was viciously pulled out of her vehicle and brutally assaulted by a gang of ATV and dirt bike riders. Any article on social media regarding these erratic and dangerous groups of bikes and ATVs is met with people claiming “they aren’t hurting anyone,” and “bikes not bullets.” The Mayor and Commissioner refuse to allow the Providence Police to engage in proactive measures to keep these unsafe vehicles off the street, but where do they draw the line? The more we embolden criminal behavior and turn a blind eye, the worse the city will get. How many more innocent people have to be hurt and traumatized before the Mayor and Commissioner see that giving criminals the keys to the city does not work? Random crimes terrorizing and hurting innocent, law-abiding citizens are becoming all too commonplace in the city. The “defund the police” movement serves nothing aside from emboldening criminals and harming the rest. These issues need to be addressed immediately, yet where are the Mayor and the Commissioner? Instead of being on the forefront of fixing the mess they’ve created, they continue to hide behind their titles and only come out to critique the police for trying to keep the city safe.”
This statement followed one regarding Saturday night’s: “Sat night only from 11pm-7am , 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. [Providence City Councilors] 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 ATVs 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
Jeremy Costa, identified as an advocate and spokesperson for the riders:
Costa said on an NBC10 interview that the woman driver was the aggressor in the incident – that she drove recklessly and she exited the car to fight with a rider on Valley Street, after one of the bikes stalled at a light at Orms and Smith Sts. The bikers followed her to Valley Street.
Video of the incident of the mother being beaten by ATV/dirt bike riders – ABC6 Twitter: (graphic video)
Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza – “Statement on Last Night’s Incident – We had an awful incident in our city last night that left a young woman shaken and injured,” said Providence Mayor Jorge O. Elorza. “We will continue to dedicate all our available resources to getting these illegal ATVs off our streets and to bring those responsible to justice. Our police department has seized and destroyed over 200 bikes and we will continue to pull over and arrest people who are using these bikes illegally.”
Mayor Elorza is out of the state on a family trip, believed to be in New Hampshire celebrating his wife’s graduation from law school, but is expected to be back next week. In a statement to Brian Crandall on NBC10, who reached him during his travel, Elorza said, “Providence is safer than many other American cities. Crime is significantly down since the 1990s.”
We will be checking with all Providence City Council members and Providence reps/sens for their statements.
Sen. Tiara Mack, Providence
Listen to Sen. Mack’s interview with Tara Granahan on WPRO:
https://omny.fm/shows/the-tara-granahan-show/sen-tiara-mack-violence-in-providence-8-5-21
This is a developing story and will be updated.
Pare’ collects two salaries for doing nothing.