Today I joined the Providence Police Department and my Council colleagues to celebrate the retirement of Providence Police Majors Michael Correia and Robert Lepre.
Major Robert E. Lepre served the Providence Police Department since 1989 and has received numerous awards for his great work, including an award from the City Council. Serving in various roles, from night patrol to Commanding officer, Major Lepre’s dedication to his community has shone through is long career.
Major Michael E. Correia has been with the Providence Police Department since 1987, and was instrumental in the prosecution of numerous homicide cases in the City. Major Correia comes from a po
lice family, with his son Casey Correia currently serving with the Providence Police Department and his father Edward J. Correia a retired Rhode Island State Police Lieutenant.
Major Lepre and Major Correia both have outstanding track records of good police work and a devotion to public service. I would like to sincerely thank Major Lepre and Major Correia for spending their careers keeping our community safe.
I wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors and I hope that they enjoy a relaxing and well-deserved retirement with their family and friends.
Nicholas J. Narducci Jr.
Senior Deputy Majority Leader, Providence City Council
Councilman, Ward 4
I am appalled and saddened by the recent violence that took place on Cheshire Street which resulted in the death of two young men.
I would like to extend my appreciation to the Providence Police Department for responding to the scene and working diligently to bring justice for Abdoulaye Dialla, Abass Mbaye and their families.
The violence devastating our local communities must be stopped. I remain as committed as ever to working with my colleagues in government and local law enforcement to make Providence a safe and peaceful place to live.
I would like to share my deepest condolences with the families and friends of Abdoulaye Dialla and Abass Mbaye. Let us keep working towards a safer City in their honor.
Nicholas J. Narducci Jr.
Senior Deputy Majority Leader, Providence City Council
Councilman, Ward 4
Last Tuesday, I had the pleasure of visiting E-Cubed Academy for their end of the year award celebration. During my visit, I was taken aback by the great work that the teachers at E-Cubed have done to build relationships with their students and improve their social and educational skills.
I attend E-Cubed Academy’s award ceremony almost every year. Last year, I met a student who was not able to fully communicate verbally with his peers or teachers. This year, I watched in amazement as the same student stood in front of his classmates and confidently gave a well-spoken speech.
This impressive young man is just one example of the great work that the teachers in Providence Public Schools do every day to change students’ lives and provide them with the structures and tools they need for success. I was impressed by all of the students I met on Tuesday who have achieved academic excellence and displayed great respect for their teachers.
As local and state leaders work together to create a stronger education system for our youth, we must remember to appreciate and support the many great educators we already have here in Providence. I would like to thank the teachers of E-Cubed Academy, and all of the teachers across the City of Providence for their dedication to the difficult work they do to provide our children with brighter futures.
Nicholas J. Narducci Jr.
Senior Deputy Majority Leader, Providence City Council
Councilman, Ward 4
I am pleased to share that the Providence Police Department has announced the 70th annual Police Training Academy will commence on Monday, May 24th. The academy will be located in Ward 5, at the former Providence Water Supply Building at 552 Academy Avenue and will run Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
With fifty new recruits, part of the most diverse class in history, this is a great opportunity for our Police Department to grow and improve based upon the unique needs of our city. These men and women will be trained in classroom and role play scenarios on how to best serve and protect all Providence residents and visitors.
In my role on the City Council, I have been an advocate for the expansion, development, and enhanced training of our police force. With a large swath of our existing police officers approaching retirement eligibility, it is crucial that a new generation of officers is recruited and trained. I extend my appreciation to the Providence Police Department for working to get this year’s academy up and running despite the complications presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
I welcome this year’s recruits to our neighborhood and wish them the best of luck as they begin their training. I look forward to seeing the value that they bring to our community as future members of the Providence Police Department.
I would like to commend the great work of Chief Hugh Clements and the Providence Police Department in the aftermath of Thursday’s shooting incident. Their diligent work to secure the crime scene and to arrest the suspects believed to be involved in this violent event have been a great source of relief to the community.
As our City faces an increase in violent crime, I call on community members and my fellow City leaders to support the good police work done by our Providence Police Department. We all want to feel safe in our neighborhoods and the men and women of our police force work every day to make that happen.
In my role as Senior Deputy Majority Leader and Councilman to Ward 4, I am committed to finding solutions to stop violent crime on our City streets, and I will continue to support our local law enforcement officers as they work towards the same goal.
Nicholas J. Narducci Jr.
Senior Deputy Majority Leader, Providence City Council
Councilman, Ward 4
At the May 6 City Council Meeting, Councilwoman Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5) introduced and the Council passed a resolution to relaunch the City’s successful Fireworks Task Force.
“With summer approaching, so too is the threat to public safety presented by the rampant illegal use of fireworks in our neighborhoods. Based on last year’s success, the Council resolution requests public safety and administrative officials, once again, to coordinate enforcement and community education regarding the use of illegal fireworks. City departments must work proactively to mitigate this issue,” stated Ryan.
In the late spring and early summer of 2020, the City of Providence experienced an overwhelming increase in illegal fireworks activity. In 2019, the police department reported less than 20 calls related to fireworks complaints, but in June of 2020 that number skyrocketed nearly 500. In response, Councilwoman Ryan convened a group of City stakeholders to discuss this quality of life nuisance, and identified three main areas that needed to be addressed: public education on what is and isn’t legal; licensing enforcement for businesses that are illegally selling fireworks; and a coordinated effort by public safety officials to focus on hot spots or problematic areas. This effort lead to the creation of the City’s Fireworks Task Force which resulted in multiple arrests and the confiscation of illegal fireworks.
In Rhode Island, ground-based fireworks and sparklers are legal, but aerial fireworks and anything that explodes are not allowed without a permit.
“Last year, as a result of the diligent efforts of the Fireworks Task Force, the City was able to make a significant reduction in the use of illegal fireworks that had been disrupting and endangering our neighborhoods,” Ryan said. “I look forward to building on this progress as we head into another summer, and I thank our local law enforcement and fire officials for the work they do every day to maintain the quality of life and public safety of our community.”
Ryan is encouraging individuals to report the use of illegal fireworks in Providence or file a complaint, call the police department’s non-emergency line (401) 272-3121. Complaints can also be filed by calling 311 or visiting the PVD 311 Website and selecting the ‘Quality of Life’ complaint option.
This resolution was co-sponsored by Council President Pro Tempore Pedro Espinal (Ward 10), Senior Deputy Majority Leader Nicholas J. Narducci Jr. (Ward 4), Councilman Michael Correia (Ward 6), Councilwoman Nirva LaFortune (Ward 3), Councilwoman Helen Anthony (Ward 2), Councilwoman Kat Kerwin (Ward 12) and Councilman John Goncalves (Ward 1).
