Three Officers Promoted to Leadership Positions in the Providence Police Department
Promotion ceremony took place today, January 8th at the Public Safety Complex

 

The family and friends of three Providence Police Officers looked on with pride as Police Chief Colonel Dean Esserman today administered the oath of office at a promotions ceremony in the 2nd Floor Atrium of the Public Safety Complex.

 

Mayor Cicilline, who today was invited by President-elect Barack Obama along with 12 other mayors around the country for a briefing on the Economic Stimulus Package, was unable to attend the promotion ceremony but sent this message, “We celebrate these officers who have served their department and the people of Providence with great honor and distinction,” said the Mayor.  “They have earned these promotions through hard work and dedication.  Congratulations to them and to all of the men and women in this force who have helped to make this police department one of the best in America.”

 

Lieutenant Thomas Verdi, of the Narcotics and Organized Crime Bureau, Investigative Division, appointed to the Providence Police Department in 1987, was promoted to the rank of Captain.  His wife, Kimberly Verdi, pinned his badge. Lieutenant James F. Desmarais, of the Bureau of Criminal Identification, Investigative Division, appointed to the Providence Police Department in 1985, was promoted to the rank of Captain.  His wife, Christine Desmarais, pinned his badge.  Lieutenant Timothy M. Lee, of the Accreditation Bureau, Administrative Division, appointed to the Providence Police Department in 1989, was promoted to the Rank of Captain. His wife, Laura Lee and son T.J., pinned his badge.
 

 

Police Officer Biographies
 

Lieutenant Thomas Verdi, Narcotics and Organized Crime Bureau, Investigative Division is promoted to the Rank of Captain

Thomas A. Verdi is a twenty-two year veteran of the Providence Police Department.  He was appointed to the Department on March 1, 1987.  For the last five years he has been the Commanding Officer of the Narcotics and Organized Crime Bureau.  In 2006, the Honorable Donald L. Carcieri, Governor of the State of Rhode Island, appointed Captain Verdi to the Rhode Island Parole Board.  Captain Verdi is the first member of the Providence Police Department to be appointed to the Rhode Island Parole Board.
 

 

Lieutenant James F. Desmarais, Bureau of Criminal Identification, Investigative Division is promoted to the Rank of Captain

Lieutenant James Desmarais was appointed to the Providence Police Department on May 5, 1985, and assigned to the Patrol Bureau, Uniformed Division, In 1987, he was transferred to the Special Planning Group, Administrative Division.  He was promoted to the Detective and transferred to the Investigative Division in 1990 and served there until 1994, when he was transferred to the Special Operations Group, Chief’s Office.  After being promoted to Lieutenant in 1997, he has served the Department as a Patrol Lieutenant, Deputy Director of the Traffic Division, Commanding Officer of the Prosecution Bureau, Director of the Training Academy, and as the Commanding Officer of the Bureau of Criminal Identification, where he presently serves.  In 1988 he received an honorable discharge from the United States Marine Corps Reserve.

Lieutenant Desmarais received an Associate of Science Degree from Johnson & Wales University; a Bachelor of Science Degree from Roger Williams University; and a Jurist Doctorate Degree from the New England School of Law. He is a member of the Rhode Island Bar. He is also an instructor at the Justice System Training & Research Institute, at Roger Williams University, as well as an adjunct professor at Johnson & Wales University, Department of Legal Studies.  Lieutenant Desmarais is the recipient of numerous commendations for excellent police work.  
 

Lieutenant Timothy M. Lee, Accreditation Bureau, Administrative Division is promoted to the Rank of Captain

Lieutenant Tim Lee was appointed to the Providence Police Department on November 17, 1989, and was assigned to the Patrol Bureau, Uniformed Division. In 1991, he was assigned to the Traffic Bureau Uniform Division where he served until August 1996, when he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. In August of 2000, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and was assigned to the Patrol Bureau until 2001, when he was transferred to the Traffic Bureau as the Commanding Officer. In 2003, after the Department reorganized into Community Districts, he served as the Commanding Officer of District One, in the Downtown area. In 2004, he was transferred to the Accreditation Bureau, Administrative Division where he presently serves.  He was also appointed by Governor Carcieri to the RI Juvenile Justice Commission in 2004 and continues to serve on that Commission.

 

Lieutenant Lee is a 1984 Graduate of LaSalle Academy.  He received his Bachelor’s Degree in 1988 and his Master’s Degree in 1994, both from Salve Regina University.  Lieutenant Lee is the recipient of numerous commendations for excellent police work and has received three Chief’s awards. He has also received two Medals of Valor from the American Legion.

 

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Mayor Cicilline Invited by President-elect Obama For Announcement & Briefing on Economic Stimulus Package
Cicilline among 12 mayors attending speech as part of USCM delegation

Mayor David N. Cicilline is among a delegation of 12 mayors from across the country invited by President-elect Barack Obama to George Mason University in Virginia today as the President-elect unveils his economic stimulus plan for America.

 

Mayor Cicilline will join the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) delegation at a briefing with the President-elect in advance of his 11 a.m. speech at George Mason University and will be available for interviews immediately following the speech.

 

The USCM recently presented its "Ready to Go" report to congress detailing infrastructure improvement projects in cities across the country that could be started immediately and completed in two years if federal emergency funds were made available.  The report contains over $570 million worth of infrastructure improvement projects slated for the Providence metropolitan area that would stimulate the economy and has the potential to create more than 6,600 jobs. 

  

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Mayor David N. Cicilline’s statement on the passing of Senator Claiborne Pell

“I am deeply saddened by the passing of Senator Claiborne Pell, who was an extraordinary United States senator from Rhode Island and one of America’s most outstanding statesmen.  He was truly a visionary leader with the highest ideals of public service and he has left a lasting legacy that will continue to impact many generations of Americans.

 

Two of the most notable achievements of the late Senator were the creation of the National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities and the Pell Grants that created education opportunities for countless students. In Rhode Island, and in Providence especially, we are grateful for the pioneering work of Senator Pell as a founding father of the NEAH, an initiative that brought us Trinity Repertory Company’s Project Discovery, and fueled the creation of dance companies, musical ensembles and visual arts programs all across the nation.  

 

Senator Pell’s leadership as Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee helped shape American foreign policy for decades, especially his support for nuclear nonproliferation.  I have ordered flags above all City buildings to be lowered to half-staff in honor of an inspiring public figure who has left our world a better place."
 
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Statement from Mayor David N. Cicilline regarding the passing of Captain Frank J. Quetta

“The City of Providence mourns the passing of a 30-year veteran of the Providence Fire Department, Captain Frank J. Quetta, who passed away Tuesday, January 6 after a long battle with leukemia.  Captain Quetta served the residents of Providence with great honor and dedication and received several commendations throughout his career for bravery and heroic actions.  He joined the Providence Fire Department in 1979 and rose through the ranks to lieutenant and, later captain. 

 
Our thoughts and prayers are with his immediate family and his extended family on the Providence Fire Department during this difficult time.  The flags on all City buildings will fly at half-staff in Captain Quetta’s memory."

 

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Providence Bruins Take To The Ice at the Bank of America City Center For Public Practice Session
Public invited to skate with members of the P-Bruins following their practice session

The public will have a chance to watch the Providence Bruins take to the ice in an outdoor practice at the Bank of America City Center on Saturday, January 10 from 10am until 11am.  

 

It’s the first time in the franchise history that the P-Bruins are holding an outdoor practice open to the public.  Fans will have an opportunity to skate with several of the players immediately following the practice session.  

 

The cost for adults to skate is $6 and admission for children age 12 and under is $3.  Other upcoming events at the Bank of America City Center include:

- American Cancer Society fundraiser hosted by Miss Rhode Island – Sunday, January 25 from 6pm – 10pm.  Miss Rhode Island International 2009 in partnership with the Bank of America Skating Center in downtown Providence & 4zero1 invite you to raise funds and awareness for the American Cancer Society and their government relation program, ACS CAN by coming out and supporting the 1st Annual Skate4aCure event. Skating, music hot chocolate, prizes! The cost of admission of a $20 donation to the American Cancer Society.

 

- Valentine’s Day at the Bank of America Skating Center - Saturday, February 14.  The days festivities are as follows: 2-4pm - get a professional Valentine’s portrait taken in front of the giant heart, 6-8pm - bring a CD and have a song dedicated to your sweetheart and from 8-10pm - free Valentine's Day keepsake for couples

 

- ProVisions United “Figure 8” fundraising event - Sunday, 1 March from 1-5pm.  VIP entry is $35 per adult, $60 per couple and $25 for children 12 and under. Blackstone Catering will provide free food within the VIP tent. Skating clinic and photos with the Johnson & Wales Men’s Ice Hockey team! ProVisions United is dedicated to fighting hunger by uniting a coalition of professionals, business owners, and employees in the Hospitality and Tourism industries to organize fundraising campaigns. These support charitable organizations that help feed people and offer youth programs and learning residencies in health, nutrition, and career counseling.
 

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Feature: My City

Forging a Path Towards Opportunity 

 

As the nation grapples with tough financial times, Providence has not waited for additional help from the federal government to address the needs of neighbors with the highest risk of losing their jobs and homes.  

 

On January 2007, after his second inaugural address, Mayor Cicilline signed an Executive Order creating a Poverty, Work and Opportunity Task Force.  Their daunting tasks were to find new and innovative ways to reduce poverty and enhance opportunities for low-income working families and individuals to improve their economic status.  Later that year, the task force submitted their recommendations to the Mayor via a report titled, Pathways to Opportunity. This year, a new office located at City Hall and headed by director Bert Cooper, is implementing those recommendations.

 

Cooper, who previously helped families at Making Connections Providence, is confident that through continued and future partnerships with the community, the work of reducing poverty by creating more opportunities in Providence will forge ahead.  City News gets an inside look from the ground level of the Pathways to Opportunity Office.

 

The Mayor was recently asked to testify in Washington about his anti-poverty measures, and he said: "I know that many view poverty as a great complex of interrelated problems, but I view it very simply. Poverty is a lack of opportunity. The fight is not a war on poverty, it is a war for opportunity." How does this inform your work?

Essentially what we’re trying to do through this work is to increase the ability of families to earn more money.  So for example, we know that a lot of families in the city are working two jobs because they can’t make ends meet, or they’re switching jobs because they’re not in permanent employment situations.  Part of our task is to figure out how to get those folks the skills that can move them towards jobs that are more stable so they can have more money for their families.

 

We’re also very interested in looking at ways in which these individuals can keep their money, to give folks tools and education so that if and when they do earn more, they are not spending it on unnecessary and expensive services like payday loans. 

 

Finally, we are looking to improve outcomes for kids so that children don’t end up living in poverty as well. 

 

{Cooper also suggested to refer to Page 7 on the Pathways to Opportunity Report, which sums up the key priority areas for action.}

 

An individual who is struggling might ask, ‘so what are these programs really gonna do for me?’  What do you offer them?

We are implementing a whole series of recommendations that came out of the Pathways to Opportunity report.   And it's important to mention our partners, who are really important to this. One of the missions of the Pathways to Opportunity Office is to align the work that we’re doing here with what partner organizations are doing around the city. 

 

We’re working on increasing  families’ access to what we call Work-Support Programs – food stamps, RITECare, RITEShare, for example – so that low-income working families can use this programs to supplement their incomes and help move them out of poverty.  United Way is helping lead this public benefits initiative. 

 

Another city-led program is the First Source Initiative, which is run through the planning department.  We've begun a new citywide initiative called Bank on Providence, which works with our local bank partners to better serve low to moderate income families, particularly working families, who haven’t been taking advantage of basic banking services, and then end up using check-cashers and payday loan services.

 

We're working on getting more people access to good jobs.  For Providence, the construction and health care industries are going to be very important.  We’re working with Johan Uvin, the Director of Adult Education for the State, along with Jane Nugent, Vice President at United Way, and we’re also bringing in some private sector representatives, and community-based organizations to better train our workforce and make sure that we’re creating pathways towards good jobs.

 

We're working with Roger Nozaki of the Brown University Swearer Center to improve access to college for high school seniors in the city. 

 

Then finally there are a couple of other exciting partner-led initiatives being led by KidsCount.  One is called Nurse-Family Partnerships, which is making sure that young children are accessing quality health care early.  Another one is piloting Pre-K initiatives so that young children can be prepared to arrive at kindergarten ready to learn and building a system around that.  As much as we aim to work with adults, we also need to work with children to prevent poverty down the road. 

 

How do we ensure that these programs succeed and are sustained in the future?

It lies in our ability to create the collaborations around the table.    The question is, how can we use the resources of the city to attract support and sustain this work in the future? And I think the Mayor plays a major role in that.  We also need to develop some community ownership over this work so that there’s a demand for it and that people see the value of it.  That’s going to help insure that the work moves forward as well.

 

Why is this work important to you?

I’m not particularly religious but I believe in the notion of karma - that you get out what you put in.  I’ve been doing this for a while.  While I was an undergrad in upstate New York, I moved and lived in Thailand, in a border community near Burma, where I really saw quite a bit of suffering.  There’s been a civil war going on there since 1947.  From there, I decided that I wanted to dedicate my life to these types of issues.  I worked for Amnesty International, went and got my Masters degree from the University of Washington in Seattle, and then went to work for the Seattle Public Housing Authority.  I worked on the same issues then that I am now for Providence – on jobs, on community organizing, and on how to help families gain financial access so they can buy homes and support their children.

 

There’s that and I just love the diversity of folks that I work with, especially in a position like this, working for a foundation (Annie E. Casey).  I get to access resources both financial and intellectual that are some of the best in the country and in the world.  And then also I get to be out in the neighborhoods working with families to figure this stuff out. 

 
The Pathways to Opportunity Office is located at City Hall.  To learn more, call 421-2489 ext. 750 or email bcooper@providenceri.com.

 

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