Providence names Oscar Perez new police chief
Ian Donnis | February 10, 2023Oscar Perez, a native of Colombia whose law enforcement career bridges two sharply different eras in Rhode Island’s largest law enforcement agency, was named Friday as the new chief of the Providence Police Department.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley made the selection in his capacity as the city’s acting public safety commissioner two days after Perez and two other finalists participated in a public forum.
While Smiley praised the other finalists, Providence Police Majs. David Lapatin and Kevin Lanni, he said
his choice of Perez was largely based on their rapport.
“What I heard from other mayors around the country time and time again, was that trust and personal rapport and that one-on-one relationship is invaluable,” Smiley said during a City Hall news conference, “and that weighed heavily on me.”Perez, 52, whose family emigrated to Rhode Island from Colombia when he was 13, said he was proud, humbled and honored by his selection as chief.
“I know it is an amazing privilege to lead the men and women of this excellent police department,” Perez said. “The city of Providence has seen me age and develop into who I am. This great city has provided me with the opportunities of a lifetime, and without a doubt has made a dream come true.”
Perez was elevated in November by former mayor Jorge Elorza to the rank of deputy chief, overseeing daily operations and administration. He has also served as a district commander for South Providence and developed a community relations bureau for the department.
Perez is the first person of color to be named chief of the Providence Police Department.
“The fact that you have someone like myself standing here, what do we tell our community members?” he asked. “It’s definitely a historic moment, it’s a proud moment. It’s a way to tell my community and to the young kids out there that says, ‘You can be here as well.’” . . .
https://thepublicsradio.org/article/providence-names-oscar-perez-new-police-chief/
"Rapport" is a fancy term for 'groupthink'.