Providence City Council President Igliozzi sets Whole Council meeting to tackle Public Safety Emergency, hear Commissioner and Police Chief’s Action Plan

Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel

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.”

Finance Chairwoman Jo-Ann Ryan: “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.”