Investigation of E.P. Police Chief Put in the Hands of Budget Board

The results of the investigation into East Providence’s police chief, who was put on administrative leave several weeks ago, is in the hands of the Budget Commission. 

But there is no indication when the budget board will take any action on that investigation.

City Manager Peter Graczykowski provided that update after the Budget Commission met Thursday afternoon to deal with several personnel items – none of which involved Police Chief Joseph Tavares. 

The situation with the police chief came up when police union president Kevin Feeney asked for information from the budget board after it ran through its posted agenda.

“What’s going on? Who’s making the decisions?” Feeney said, recognizing that this personnel matter was not on the agenda and there did not appear to be an opportunity for public comment. 

Diane Brennan, chair of the Budget Commission, said the board has always allowed public comment.

She verified that the budget board has returned to East Providence only to handle personnel issues – such as the investigation into the police chief.

“We’ve taken that part of our responsibility back,” she said.

She said that the board first is making sure that all existing policies and procedures are being followed.

"But we don't have all that we need to know yet," she said, regarding the police chief.

That restoration of authority over personnel matters came at the request of Mayor James Briden, who said he felt “it was in the best interests of the city.”

He asked RI Revenue Director Rosemary Booth Gallogly, who was in the audience Thursday afternoon, to rescind a decision that gave the city all of its power back in late March soon after the police chief was put on leave.

Responding to a question from the floor from Alice Martin, of Kent Heights, Brennan said: “The police chief is still on administrative leave. He has not been terminated.”

Feeney said the police department is looking for answers and not getting any at this time.

“We’ve lived within the parameters of the arbitration award four years ago,” he said, referring to the result of a Superior Court decision that gave the city the right to hire whomever it wanted as police chief.

At that time, the union wanted someone from within the ranks of the East Providence Police Department to be named chief, and it still believes there are officers within the department who can do the job.

“We still consider him (Tavares) an outsider,” said Feeney. "But the union will live with whatever decision is made by the Budget Commission."

“But we want a decision made without undue influence from the state,” he said.

If that decision relieves the police chief of his command, Feeney said, “We want them to know that there are members in this department who can handle that position.”

Feeney said also that he wants people in East Providence to know that the department is being “handled professionally” under the command of the Deputy Chief, Maj. Christopher Parella, who was moved into the top slot by Graczykowski when he put Tavares on paid leave.

The city manager agreed with Feeney. 

“I have full confidence in the current leadership,” he said.