Providence council moves to fill contested police community relations job

Updated at 4 p.m., Friday, April 8

THE PROVIDENCE CITY COUNCIL is moving ahead with budget changes to finalize and fill a Providence Police Department community relations role, after Mayor Jorge O. Elorza's original pick, Michael Stephens, above, drew criticism for his lack of law enforcement experience. / COURTESY CITY OF PROVIDENCE
THE PROVIDENCE CITY COUNCIL is moving ahead with budget changes to finalize and fill a Providence Police Department community relations role, after Mayor Jorge O. Elorza's original pick, Michael Stephens, above, drew criticism for his lack of law enforcement experience. / COURTESY CITY OF PROVIDENCE

PROVIDENCE – The stalemate between Mayor Jorge O. Elorza’s office and the City Council over a controversial police appointment appears to have ended.

Elorza’s original pick, city recreation director Michael Stephens, could still get the job despite his lack of policing experience. But it’s unclear whether Stephens even wants the job, which has been mired in controversy.

The City Council Finance Committee on April 5 voted to send back to the full council a series of changes to its fiscal 2021 budget turning what was initially intended to be a sworn law enforcement officer position into a civilian “administrator of community relations and diversion services,” with a lower salary than what a police major would earn. The council must approve those changes before the job can be filled.

Elorza initially wanted to appoint Stephens to what was intended to be a police major role in September, prompting backlash from local and national police organizations, as well as council members, because of his lack of law enforcement experience.

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The controversy took another turn after City Council President John J. Igliozzi alleged the hiring process was rigged.

Igliozzi maintained in an interview Friday that the way Stephens was chosen for the job was “inappropriate,” criticizing Police Commissioner Steven Paré for “trying to obfuscate” the fact that Stephens was part of the hiring committee before later becoming a candidate. There were also allegations that Stephens was not one of the three finalists the committee recommended to the mayor. Some raised questions over when the search was opened to non-law enforcement officers.

Paré disputed these allegations in a hearing before the Finance Committee in November.  On Friday Lindsay Lague, a spokeswoman for Paré’s office, did not comment specifically on Igliozzi’s accusations but maintained that Stephens was the best person for the job.

“Mike Stephens has already gone through an extensive vetting process that included members of the community and Providence Police Department,” Lague said. “PPD leadership is confident Mike Stephens is well-equipped to take on this role and is moving forward with Mike as the selected candidate. This role fills a critical need in our approach to public safety and we are looking forward to seeing Mike in the role as soon as possible.”

Stephens did not respond to inquiries for comment.

While Igliozzi previously called for the city to reopen the search process, he said Friday it was up to the city administration and the Police Department to make that call.

“If they choose to appoint him, he’s going to have to go above and beyond to give credibility to himself and his position,” Igliozzi said.

Conflicting narratives over the original hiring process have not been resolved, but both sides agree on the importance of filling the position.

“We have to put politics and bad policy aside and put something forward that at least shows there’s a validity in addressing community needs,” Igliozzi said.

Theresa Agonia, Elorza’s chief of external affairs, said in an emailed statement that the mayor is “eager to get this critical work off the ground.”

“The mayor and the City Council agree on the importance of this work and we are glad the council has moved this out of committee,” Agonia said.

Asked about whether Stephens would still be appointed to the job, or to comment on the lower salary range – downgraded from $116,000-$137,000 to $99,500-$126,000 – that accompanies the renaming and reclassifying of the position, Agonia said “At this point, everyone is in agreement that the most important thing is to get this work started.”

Updates throughout. 

Nancy Lavin is a PBN staff writer. You may reach her at Lavin@PBN.com.

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