Oscar Perez is the next Chief of the Providence Police Department
Mayor Brett Smiley today announced that Commander Oscar Perez will serve the City of Providence as the 38th Chief of Police, the first-ever Latino to hold that role.
February 10, 2023, 1:23 pm
By Uprise RI Staff
“Throughout his nearly 30-year tenure and certainly in this interview process, Chief Perez has demonstrated he is the dedicated public servant that can foster strong relationships within the community and is lasered focus on the quality-of-life issues our residents identified as top priorities for the next Chief,” said Providence Mayor Brett Smiley. “I am excited for the work we will do together to make Providence safer for our residents, businesses and visitors.”
Video from the press event in the Mayor’s office:
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Mayor Smiley is deeply committed to increasing public safety and believes that investing in strong community relations will help achieve this goal. Chief Oscar Perez has been a member of the Providence Police Department for 29 years, beginning as a Patrol Officer and most recently serving as Deputy Chief of the Providence Police Department where he oversees daily operations and administration of all police services and functions of PPD. In his tenure, Perez was a District Commander for South Providence and developed the PPD’s Community Relations Bureau, implemented a department-wide community policing bureau policy and spearheaded several police community relations initiatives.
“Serving as Chief of Police for the city that welcomed me so many years ago and that has become my home is the honor of a lifetime,” said Chief Oscar Perez. “I am excited to give back to my community, to work with my colleagues in uniform to provide them with the proper training and resources, supporting our officers’ health and wellness, and to get to work on the big issues- decreasing gun violence, preventing crimes, supporting our youth and improving the quality-of-life in our city.”
Providence City Council leadership released the following statements:
“Congratulations to Chief Perez on this historic day for the city of Providence,” said Council President Rachel Miller (Ward 13). “With nearly three decades of experience, I am confident that Chief Perez will lead the men and women of the Providence Police Department ethically and with integrity. Thanks to Majors Lanni and Lapatin for being part of the process and sharing their perspectives at Mayor Smiley’s forum. The city is fortunate to have such a dedicated and talented command staff at the ready.”
“This is an exciting day for the city of Providence, people of color, and especially for the Latino community,” said Council Pro Tempore Juan Pichardo (Ward 9). “For the first time in the history of the city, our 38th police chief has come from the neighborhoods and among the ranks, qualified and ready to serve. Best of all, he speaks and understands my constituent’s language on the south side and the growing Latino population across Providence. I have no doubt that Chief Perez will continue to bring transparency and accountability to the department. We all should stand with the new chief because it is never easy being the first.”
Other reactions include the BLM RI PAC, who write,
“The BLM RI PAC would like to congratulate Chief Oscar Perez on his new appointment as Chief of Police of the Providence Police Department. This is a historic moment for our city as Chief Perez is the first person of color to lead the department. Chief Perez has been a member of PPD for 29 years, beginning as a patrol officer and most recently serving as Deputy Chief of PPD. Perez developed PPD’s Community Relations Bureau, implemented a department-wide community policing policy, and spearheaded several community relations initiatives. Chef Perez migrated to the United States from Columbia at the young age of 13.
“As the Providence Police Department transitions under Mayor Brett Smiley and Chief Perez, the BLM RI PAC would like to continue a dialogue with the department and leadership in hopes of making transformational changes to policing in Providence. As acting chief, leaders of the BLM RI PAC had the opportunity to form a line of communication with Chief Perez, and we hope it remains open and fruitful.
“Although progress has been made, many pressing issues still need to be addressed in our community around public safety, ranging from accountability, transparency, and the work to dismantling systemic flaws in policing itself. Chief Perez should be prudent in enforcing the Community Safety Act (CSA), which is already standing law, and begin a strong relationship with the Providence External Review Authority (PERA). We hope that during his time as police chief, more emphasis is put on expanding mobile crisis intention teams to reach the growing needs of our citizens with mental and behavioral health issues.
“We look forward to working with Chief Perez and the department to achieve a safer, more effective, and more equitable police department for Providence.“
This public search process for police chief was based on best practices from across the country and included an initial screening, interviews with the mayor, and participation in a public forum that occurred on February 8 where finalists were asked moderated questions from Providence residents, businesses and community members.
Perez is a proud immigrant from Medellin, Colombia who came to Providence at the age of 13. He attended and graduated Providence Public Schools.
