15 replies to this topic

[Mij]

Has Daivd dropped the ball? Is he hurting his chances of becoming governor. Is Esserman in need of replacement? Lately is seems like bad news keeps coming out of providence like a bad underage drinking story comes out of Barrington. While you always want to give you elected officials the benefit of a doubt (even more so when you voted for them) The bad news dose not stop coming…

What gives?

Jim

[runawayjim]

I've been thinking the same thing myself.  What's up with cancelling the fireworks?

[Cotuit]

runawayjim, on Jul 4 2008, 07:23 PM, said:

What's up with cancelling the fireworks?

What I was told was there were complaints from businesses and residents in the state house area that embers were landing on their buildings, the fire marshal decided the risk of fire was too high when launching them from there. There was a plan to launch them from a barge in the Providence River (outside the hurricane barrier) but no one in the city bothered to apply for the appropriate permits until early last week, and the Coast Guard laughed at them when they tried to apply Monday for Friday.

Lots of ball dropping happens in this city. Sometimes I feel like the state and city governments are run by a bunch of teenagers and they need their parents to come in and hold their hands.


A lot of other cities around the country cancelled their displays due to cost this year. Apparently there were several large fireworks factory explosions in China over the last year, and there is actually a worldwide shortage of fireworks due to that. The shortage is driving up the costs.

[runawayjim]

Cotuit, on Jul 5 2008, 11:31 AM, said:

What I was told was there were complaints from businesses and residents in the state house area that embers were landing on their buildings, the fire marshal decided the risk of fire was too high when launching them from there. There was a plan to launch them from a barge in the Providence River (outside the hurricane barrier) but no one in the city bothered to apply for the appropriate permits until early last week, and the Coast Guard laughed at them when they tried to apply Monday for Friday.

i think it's funny that they complained after having fireworks shot from there several times a year for the past how many years?

i think they should shoot them off from the river/bay and have people watch from india point park.  that seems like it'd be a great way to get people into that park, though i did love the echoing back and forth off the buildings when they did them downtown.

[Mij]

Fire Works aside, Esserman has been a god awful chief, and Cicilline is looking worst for the ware because of it. The continued episodes with Channel 10 and Projo make city hall look terrible. Cicilline is dropping in popularity, taking a shot of at the gov was week at best, and the fire works was no biggie but the truth behind that` is fire cheif would not sign off due to lack of contract and other unwarranted city hall attacks towards their union. The politics are getting to a new level of creepiness... I think some serious debate as to weather Cicilline should be in the conversation for gov should start here.

[AriPVD]

Why has Esserman been a god awful chief?  I have heard nothing but good things.

[Mij]

AriPVD, on Jul 6 2008, 01:15 PM, said:

Why has Esserman been a god awful chief?  I have heard nothing but good things.

You might be out of the loop a little bit... Esserman had an entire ABC 6 piece done on him called "you paid for it". He has actually been detained and almost arrested at TF Green for an over bear bully actually pulling the "Do you know who I am card" lying about crime statistics, allowing officers to take cars home to CT on taxpayers dime. Last week there was a woman picked up and murdered by a illegal immagrent that was allowed to slip trough the cracks of the new PPD immigration procedure, one that does not serve nor protect, and one that was put in place by Esserman. I could go on and on about the waste of a police chief he is.

Jim

[AriPVD]

Hmm.  Seems like crime has been down big in Providence compared to peer (and bigger) cities, Hartford, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Newark, etc.  Community policing seems to work.

Anyone else care to weigh in?

Edited by AriPVD, 06 July 2008 - 07:54 PM.

[Cotuit]

There are statistics, then there are actual crimes.

[Frankie811]

AriPVD, on Jul 6 2008, 01:15 PM, said:

Why has Esserman been a god awful chief?  I have heard nothing but good things.

You've heard correctly. Your basically hearing one persons gripes.

[Frankie811]

AriPVD, on Jul 6 2008, 09:54 PM, said:

Hmm.  Seems like crime has been down big in Providence compared to peer (and bigger) cities, Hartford, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Newark, etc.  Community policing seems to work.

Anyone else care to weigh in?

The Col. is doing an excellent job with community policing, having created 9 districts within the city with commanding officers in charge and responsible for everything that goes on in their repective patrol areas. The PPD has store fronts offices in each of the 9 districts in order to establish a good relationship in each community.  The Col. has gotten to know just about all of the city and community leader in order to construct a positive working relationship. The Col. himself has been know to walk a beat from time to time in high crime areas. Just last week he walked a known Weat end street known for Asian street gang activity. It has been reported that several high ranking officers take their official city cars home which has raised some eyebrows. They respond to emergencies at all hours of the day and night. They are on duty 24/7. The other poster seems concerned that one Lt lives in NE CT and drives his city vehicle there. Well, he choose to live there. Projo just loves to report things like this in order to excite the public furor. In my opinion this was all about nothing. And as Col. Esserman stated, " I don't tell them where to live, I tell them what to do". If all high ranking officers were to utilize their own personal vehicles for travel to and from work the city would probably have to reimburse them for gas and wear and tear anyhow. Perhaps the other poster doesn't realize that virtually all state troopers take their cruisers home, from the lowest trooper to the Col. himself. If the Providence Police supervisors were using their department vehicles for personal uses, then maybe I'd have a problem with that. But not with this.

I think Col. Esserman has done a fantastic job here in Providence. His reputation preceeds him in the law enforcement community. He is well known for his success in curbing crime in Stamford, CT & Providence, RI. Also for his leadership while in command at the NY Transit Police. He in constantly being invited to national and international forums on policing issues effecting society. We were very lucky to get him to come here. His wife and children don't even live in Providence, but in NY. He travels there almost every weekend to visit them. He makes this sacrifice for us and our city, for which he serves. Oh my, I hope he's not using a city car.

As for the incident at TF Green, all has not been reported here. Here's the scoup, or as they say in England, here's the rub. The Col. was flying out to a conference and notified the Airport Police of who he was and that he'd be carrying a firearm and would like a little professional courtesy. In other words he prefered not to go through the usual airport screening procedures. The Col. arrived, was escorted through as requested with no problems, untill the Transportation Security Administration got wind of it. Then all hell broke loose. In my opinion the TSA and Homeland Security go way too far which is one reason why I no longer fly. I won't be treated like cattle or a thief. An investigation was called for, so I don't know what will happen.  Probably and hopefully nothing. Such nonsense. This was an insult to the chief.
Now, on this immigration issue concerning the Col., I think he's right and I stand behind him on this issue. The PPD should not be concerned with rounding up illegals unless thay commit a crime. They should not be pounding on doors of local factories looking for illegals from South Americans and other places. It should be the job of the Immigration & Naturalization Service or ICE.

For the life of me I don't understand this thread.    I guess that's why Ari asked for more opinions.

Edited by Frankie811, 07 July 2008 - 06:12 AM.

[runawayjim]

Frankie811, on Jul 7 2008, 08:01 AM, said:

It has been reported that several high ranking officers take their official city cars home which has raised some eyebrows. They respond to emergencies at all hours of the day and night. They are on duty 24/7. The other poster seems concerned that one Lt lives in NE CT and drives his city vehicle there. Well, he choose to live there. Projo just loves to report things like this in order to excite the public furor. In my opinion this was all about nothing. And as Col. Esserman stated, " I don't tell them where to live, I tell them what to do". If all high ranking officers were to utilize their own personal vehicles for travel to and from work the city would probably have to reimburse them for gas and wear and tear anyhow. Perhaps the other poster doesn't realize that virtually all state troopers take their cruisers home, from the lowest trooper to the Col. himself. If the Providence Police supervisors were using their department vehicles for personal uses, then maybe I'd have a problem with that. But not with this.

I have no problem with police officers taking their cruisers home when they are on duty.  However, in what job does someone get reimbursed for their travel to and from work?  What good is it to have a police officer on the clock 30 minutes from Providence?  That's wasteful.  There is absolutely no need for that.  Now, I don't know much about the situation, but I have never heard of a police officer, other than perhaps a detective, on the clock 24/7.  And generally speaking, detectives don't drive regular cruisers.

While the officers may choose where to live, Esserman chooses to allow them to use city resources to bring them to and from work.  If he's going to do that, perhaps they should require anyone working for the Providence Police Dept to live in the city so they aren't spending ungodly amounts of the city's money commuting.

[Cotuit]

Frankie, were'd you get those rose colored glasses?

[Mij]

When I posted this thread I did it with the understanding that this board has some very bias contributors and some very smart rebutters. Frankie you paint a very rosy picture of Esserman. The fact his reputation is that of an over baring “your going to think what I tell you to think” boss, whom has been getting unsavory attention do to his practices. This isn’t the first time. While putting him self in the cross hairs of the gov. for not practicing a report and call method when it comes to illegal immigrants committing crimes. Due to the lack of this practice a women is now dead.
Maybe the local FOP has some weight when they criticize Esserman.

Not to completely pile on Esserman, Cicilline has his coming to him. His dual with Don is making him look like a fool.
Jim

[eltron]

From my point of view, Esserman has done a great job. The police force, (particularly the district commanders) is transparant, available, and connected to the community. Community policing has been effective and crime is down everywhere. I would say that qualifies as success.

[ruchele]

I have to say that I, also, have had really good experiences with Esserman and think that, overall, he is doing a really great job in terms of making his officers accountable and accessible to the community.  I can't speak for how he is as a boss, but I think there have been some pretty good results in the neighborhoods of this city due to his approach as a community partner.