Report recommends new department to shift responsibilities from Providence police
A NEW REPORT recommends ways to cut costs and improve efficiencies in the Providence Police Department, including creating a new Office of Neighborhood Services to coordinate and handle more community and social service-related needs.
PROVIDENCE – The city could cut costs, improve services and make its police and fire departments more efficient by creating a new department to coordinate and respond to social service-related needs.
This was the primary conclusion of a nearly 200-page report published on Tuesday analyzing the city’s Department of Public Safety budget and operations. Mayor Jorge O. Elorza in September announced plans to hire a consultant, the Public Financial Management’s Center for Justice and Safety Finance, to review and recommend ways to improve city public safety in response to a growing movement calling for municipalities to defund their police departments.