The City of Providence has a new Police Chief.
Mayor Brett Smiley has named Oscar Perez, the city’s Acting Police Chief to the permanent post. He replaces Colonel Hugh Clements who resigned at the beginning of the year to accept a position in the Department of Justice dealing with community policing.
Smiley has tapped Acting Chief Oscar Perez, a 29-year veteran of the department, as the chief. He becomes the first person of color to serve as chief.
Mayor Brett Smiley told reporters that he was pleased to see that the Chief Elect has displayed professionalism throughout his career and is confident that he will take the department ti new heights.
Perez thanked the Mayor for the appointment. He said that he was both proud and humbled to lead the department. He said it is the opportunity of a lifetime.
Perez says they will continue to be professional and provide the services they are accustomed to but will also deal with quality of life of issues.
He thanked the police rank and file for their “outstanding and constitutional” work. He said that he will listen to the people and to the department to decide the direction.
He thanked Colonel Clements, who he called a mentor, but said he would build on what he was taught throughout the years.
There will be no city council confirmation needed for the post. He will be sworn in in the next few days, once schedules are coordinated