2023 -- H 5530

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LC001797

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING COLONEL OSCAR PEREZ ON BEING NAMED POLICE CHIEF OF

THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE

     Introduced By: Representatives Hull, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Baginski, J. Lombardi,
Chippendale, Sanchez, Fellela, Cruz, and Giraldo

     Date Introduced: February 14, 2023

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Newly appointed Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez was born in

Colombia and immigrated to the United States at the age of thirteen, calling it the “opportunity of

a lifetime”; and

     WHEREAS, Chief Perez graduated from Central High School, and attained a Bachelor’s

degree in Criminal Justice from Roger Williams University, and a Master’s degree in Criminal

Justice from Boston University; and

     WHEREAS, In 1994, Chief Perez began his distinguished law enforcement career,

serving as a Patrol Officer for the Providence Police Department. Over the course of his career,

he continuously impressed his colleagues and peers with his tireless work ethic, leadership skills,

and investigatory acumen; and

     WHEREAS, Chief Perez’s assignments as a police officer have ranged from working in

the Youth Services Bureau as a Detective, to overseeing patrols in the South Providence,

Washington Park, Elmwood and Reservoir Triangle neighborhoods. He also worked in the

Department’s Bureau of Intelligence, Community Policing, Narcotics and Organized Crime, the

Gang Intervention Unit, and the Neighborhood Response Team divisions; and

     WHEREAS, Chief Perez oversaw a professional standards-unit within the Department

that is directly responsible for investigating alleged lawbreaking by police officers. He stated on

the record that “holding officers accountable is essential”, and we need “to ensure that we are

policing in a constitutional manner”; and

     WHEREAS, Chief Perez, who is the City of Providence’s first Latino Police Chief,

promised in his first speech as the new Chief, “to get to work on the big issues”, which he

identified as crime prevention, gun violence, youth support and quality-of-life issues for

Providence residents and visitors. He went on to state, “Serving as Chief of Police for the City

that welcomed me so many years ago and that has become my home is the honor of lifetime”;

now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

expresses its congratulations to Colonel Oscar Perez on being named the new Police Chief of the

City of Providence. We thank him for all he has done for the City of Providence throughout his

distinguished law enforcement career and wish him continued success as the new Police Chief of

Providence, 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 Colonel Oscar Perez, Providence Police

Department Chief.

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LC001797

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