PROVIDENCE – The City Council is moving ahead with plans to reclassify a new community relations role within the Police Department as a civilian post rather than a police major, with a potential salary cut.
The council at its meeting Thursday night reintroduced the classification and compensation ordinances tied to the fiscal 2022 budget, making two key changes: adding a civilian “public safety community police liaison” job, to report to the Office of the Public Safety Commissioner, and removing that role from within the uniform personnel section of the police department. The proposal also adds a fifth police major.
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The changes, first pitched by Council President John J. Igliozzi in a letter to Mayor Jorge O. Elorza on Sept. 8, come amid increasing criticism over Elorza’s appointment of a city administrator to the community relations police major position originally included in the fiscal 2022 spending plan. Michael Stephens, a longtime city employee and Providence native, has headed the city recreation department since 2015 but has no law enforcement training.
A number of city lawmakers and local and national policing organizations opposed the decision, citing Stephens’ lack of police training, as well as informal agreements between the mayor and the council that an existing officer of color would be promoted to the role.
The position is new to the department and was created to help bridge the gap between existing officers and the community, while also helping redirect emergency calls better suited to mental health and social service professionals away from law enforcement. The role also included responsibilities for supervising the police academy, as well as promotion and testing for internal officers and choosing new recruits.
The council approved the introduction of the proposed changes by unanimous vote, with no discussion. The proposal now heads to the city finance committee for further discussion and potential amendment. If approved by the committee, the proposal would then come before the council for a final vote.
If approved as presented at Thursday’s council meeting, Stephens could see his salary cut by up to $22,000. The reclassification of his role would also shift the pay range to between $99,500 and $115,000. The previous pay range under which he was appointed is the standard police major salary of $116,000 to $137,000.
Igliozzi told PBN the new pay range was simply a “placeholder,” but did acknowledge that the shift to a civilian role may mean a pay cut. He also indicated Stephens may not be able to keep the job at all, instead suggesting the city advertise the position for any civilian candidates, including Stephens, to apply.
Stephens previously declined to comment, saying he preferred to stay out of the controversy. Elorza has continued to defend his nomination of Stephens, citing support from Police Commissioner Steven Paré and Police Chief Hugh T. Clements.
In an interview with PBN on Wednesday, Elorza said the controversy was “on the way to sorting itself out.”
In a follow-up email Thursday, Theresa Agonia, a spokeswoman for the mayor, offered further explanation.
“Mayor Elorza and public safety leadership have had positive and productive conversations with the council president on this topic,” Agonia stated. “We believe we are all aligned and expect the City Council to consider amendments tonight to what was originally submitted.”
In a subsequent interview, Igliozzi clarified that the ordinances would be introduced as originally proposed but subject to amendments during the finance committee review.
The council can shift appropriations within the already-approved spending plan as long as the bottom line stays the same. The additional funding for the second position could come from unspent areas of the budget, such as several of the canceled festivals, or potentially federal stimulus funds under the American Rescue Plan Act, Igliozzi said previously.
Update: Adds paragraphs 10-12 to provide further comment from the mayor’s office and Council President John Igliozzi.
(This story has been further updated to include the City Council’s unanimous approval of introducing proposed changes to the community relations role in the Police Department.)
Nancy Lavin is a PBN staff writer. You may reach her at Lavin@PBN.com.
This whole thing is a total fiasco just like Elorza and Igliozzi. We don’t need either of these new positions. Just another waste of taxpayer money.