2019 -- S 0732

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LC002191

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

THANKING FORMER EAST PROVIDENCE POLICE CHIEF CHRISTOPHER PARELLA

FOR HIS NEARLY TWENTY-NINE YEARS OF MERITORIOUS AND DEVOTED SERVICE

WITH THE EAST PROVIDENCE POLICE DEPARTMENT

     Introduced By: Senators Lawson, Coyne, Conley, Ruggerio, and Cano

     Date Introduced: March 27, 2019

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, Christopher Parella began his distinguished law enforcement career in

November of 1990, when he joined the East Providence Police Department. Through the years his

tireless work ethic, attention to detail, and strong leadership and communication skills impressed

both his colleagues and superiors as he steadily rose through the ranks; and

     WHEREAS, Since joining the Department, Mr. Parella has held every position but

corporal, including serving four years and eight months as Police Chief, and for the last six

months of 2018, holding the dual role of Chief and Acting City Manager; and

     WHEREAS, During his tenure as Chief from June of 2014 to February 15, 2019, Chief

Parella worked to diversify the members of the Department in order to better reflect the

community they serve. He also helped to secure three collective bargaining agreements with the

officers’ union, and secured the right of the City to initiate a lateral entry program in order to

bring experienced officers into the Department from other jurisdictions; and

     WHEREAS, Chief Parella takes great pride in the excellent working relationship he had

with the East Providence Police Department. School safety was always one of his top priorities

and safe schools were a hallmark of his exemplary record as Chief; and

     WHEREAS, Another area of success Chief Parella had was in fostering better

community relationships between the Police Department and the minority community. As he

concluded his tenure, there were no racial profiling complaints from civilians, no disparate impact

complaints from within the Department, and not one outstanding grievance or civilian complaint

about any officer’s treatment of the public; now; therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby recognizes and extends gratitude to former East Providence Police Chief Chris Parella for

his more than twenty-eight years of exemplary service to the citizens of East Providence and the

State of Rhode Island; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Christopher Parella, retired Police Chief,

City of East Providence.

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LC002191

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