Police union protests change in E. Providence chief hiring
12:42 AM Wed, May 20, 2009 | Permalink
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EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- A 121-year tradition of promoting East Providence police chiefs from within the department may end this year and about 80 officers picketed outside of City Hall Tuesday evening for an hour and a half to demonstrate they are not happy about it. Wearing shirts that said "Support your police department," the group then filed into the City Council meeting and took more than three-fourths of the seats available. Mayor Joseph Larisa Jr. complimented the civility displayed early on, but later took the union to task for what he called "personal attacks." International Brotherhood of Police Officers Local 569 president John Rossi, a detective corporal in the department, read a prepared statement that blamed Larisa for the departure from tradition. He said the mayor had an "axe to grind" with the union and the taxpayers are paying thousands more because of it. He talked about Larisa's ego and commented about his 11,000-square-foot Florida home to emphasize Larisa doesn't live like "regular people." He also said Larisa doesn't know what a sweetheart deal is because "maybe Joe's never had a sweetheart." At the heart of his statement, Rossi said nearly 100 percent of the union's members didn't agree with the city's appointment of a state police lieutenant to serve as its interim police chief while a permanent replacement is sought for Hubert Paquette, who retired May 8. When Lt. Raymond Studley began that day, Rossi said it was the "most humiliating day" of his entire police career. "I woke up that Friday morning at 3:30 a.m. while Joe was sleeping peacefully in his bed," Rossi said. "...The City ordinance says that the deputy chief would assume the duties and the powers of the chief of police upon the chief's absence." He said the second-in-charge, 30-year veteran Maj. Donald Dubois, should hold down the department instead of Studley and it would save the department money because Dubois wasn't seeking additional money for the additional duties. Yet Superior Court Judge Michael A. Silverstein said two weeks ago that city officials were within their rights to appoint whoever they want because a retirement isn't the same as an absence, so Dubois reported "hat in hand" to Studley. "The humiliation was complete and thorough and heart wrenching because I knew that there have been no allegations of wrong-doing in the department, there have been no allegations of criminal activity in the department and there have been no allegations of corruption in the department," he said. "... As I wracked my brain for answers, I could only come to one conclusion as to why this was happening. Joe Larisa has an axe to grind with your Police Department." When he finally finished, the officers applauded as he walked out of the building. They then filed out as Larisa began to rebut Rossi's remarks. "These personal attacks just show where the union is," Larisa said, while stating there isn't 100 percent agreement by all the officers no matter what Rossi claims. "... I have no axe to grind against anyone grand poobah Rossi. And it's not all Joe. This is a council run by majority." The council members were split. With so many phone calls, e-mails and anonymous letters of alleged police misconduct and department problems, Valerie Perry said she "doesn't know who to believe" and that's why she wanted Studley. Robert Cusack said he's still convinced the department is divided despite the fact that the officers present said the problem was Paquette. Meanwhile, members Brian Coogan and Bruce DiTraglia emphasized there are a lot of good officers in East Providence and surely the city can get a qualified chief from within. There are 11 who meet the minimum requirements, and the application deadline is Friday. "We went outside for the city manager and I'm not happy about him," Coogan said. Replied Coogan, "If we do pick an outsider, we're blocking those who studied hard to move up. It's not an easy job and the morale is going to go down." DiTraglia added, "[Hiring from within] is the only fair and right thing to do." 
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If they've never had an outsider chief, I can understand why the union is uncomfortable about this, but hiring from within is not always a good idea. Consistently promoting leadership from within is one way workplace cultures become entrenched and almost impossible to change. Also, there may be an outside candidate whose qualifications are vastly superior to the internal candidate. You don't know until you look.
The union is wrong about this.
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The Union Rep Rossi is attempting to intimidate a Mayor, City Council, and the public as a whole. His personal attacks and bullying tactics should not be tolerated. Nevermind what he meant by the Mayor not having a "sweetheart"...it is difficult to remain civil in this forum when the voice of the department is trying to scare everyone. I'd love to allow the state police a chance to review some of the abusive practices carried out my a small group of officers.
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IN the same vein, if a member of the East Providence police department thinks he or she is qualified for a higher position, don't hesitatae to look outside either, as the town is doing. Sometimes you can't fight city hall, yours or anyone else's.
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One must remember: This new chief is not "hired." He is there temporarily. Instead of working to ensure a new chief is hired from within the ranks by showing the city that the union is ready to acknowledge there needs to be some changes, they are fighting an unnecessary battle and making themselves look ridiculous.
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Since when do EMPLOYEES get to tell an EMPLOYER who is going to run the show? This is why unions are entitled to ZERO RESPECT in my book.
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This is typical of a local Mayor. He disrepects the police dept by brining in a trooper. Then has made the descion that not one East Providence Police Officer is capable or qualified to do the job. We have seen his politics and it all stinks. I'm willing to bet he has a family memeber or friend lined up to be the next chief at a rate of pay that is out of touch with the local dept. chiefs as well a pension that the "new " chief will get in five years.
Plain and simple the Police Dept should black ball the mayor and any new chief to include the trooper they brought in.
I support the union a 100%
Under the mayor logic if he wants he can hire a new dept for every dept in the city from the outside like the head of the spanish language in the school system etc.
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It is always suspect when the unions resort to mud slinging instead of sticking to the issue at hand. Let's all remember, the Tail does NOT wag the dog! No matter where the next Chief comes from, it will only be a matter of time before the Union sees fit to come out with a "No confidence vote"....which is in itself, A JOKE!!
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In response to DEB2's comment. Do you know what the City Charter is?
PS w/ regard to union workers, this country was built on the hard work of union employees!
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Honest answer, are you serious? Let's not talk about playing "politics" when there are members high up in the unions who are bragging on other news media sites about having the politicians on Smith Hill in their back pockets. How they lavish them with 500.00 dinners, have firemen come and fill their pools, police squash their tickets. High school teachers embellish their child's academic record a bit. He has bragged about working "the system" and when it comes back to bite the unions in the behind and politics are played back on them they don't like it. Well TOO bad!
It's a temporary placement. It's NOT written in law that the replacement must come from within the department. THAT is what stinks about this whole situation!
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