Mayor Smiley Announces Final Candidates for 38th Chief of the Providence Department
PROVIDENCE, RI– Mayor Brett P. Smiley today announced the three finalists being considered to become the 38th Chief of the Providence Police Department: Kevin M. Lanni, David A. Lapatin, Oscar L. Perez. The three candidates will appear at a public forum on Wednesday, February 8th at 5:30PM at the Providence Career and Technical Academy, 41 Fricker Street.
“I am excited to introduce the community to three exceptional candidates who I believe exemplify we want in their next Chief of Police- a dedicated public servant that will work with the community to increase our overall public safety,” said Mayor Brett Smiley. “I want to encourage Providence residents and community members to meet these candidates at our public forum Wednesday night.”
The following individuals are the final candidates being considered to become the 38th Chief of Police for the City of Providence:
Kevin M. Lanni
Major Lanni has been a member of the Providence Police Department for 25 years. Lanni beginning as a Patrolman of the Community Policing Unit and rose through the ranks to now be the Commanding Officer of the Community Operations and Engagement Bureau. Lanni spent much of his career as Commanding Officer of Narcotics, Firearms and Organized Crime and has spearheaded two training academies for Providence Police, reimaging the PPD’s recruitment, training and retention strategies to incorporate bias awareness, cross-cultural policing and strategies for serving vulnerable residents. Lanni attended Providence Public Schools and currently resides in Providence.
David A. Lapatin
Major Lapatin has been a member of the Providence Police Department for 39 years, beginning as a Patrol Officer. Lapatin is currently Commanding Officer of the Investigative Division where he manages the Detective, License Enforcement, Intelligence, Youth Services, Criminal Investigations and Narcotic bureaus of the PPD. Lapatin has developed strong partnerships with local organizations and with community groups to solve ongoing crimes. Lapatin went to Providence Public Schools and graduated from Hope High School. He currently resides in Cranston.
Oscar L. Perez
Commander Oscar Perez has been a member of the Providence Police Department for 29 years, beginning as a Patrol Officer most recently serving as Deputy Chief of the Providence Police Department where he oversees daily operations and administration of all police services and functions of PPD. In his tenure, Perez developed the PPD’s Community Relations Bureau, implemented a department-wide community policing bureau policy and spearheaded several police community relations initiatives. Perez immigrated to Providence at the age of 13, went to Providence Public Schools through high school and currently resides in North Providence.
The public forum will be facilitated by Nonviolence Institute Executive Director Cedric Huntley and Progreso Latino Executive Director Mario Bueno. Candidates will be asked questions based on the bilingual survey that engaged community members on what qualities they would like to see in the next leader of the Providence Police Department. Survey findings will be shared at the beginning of the public forum on February 8th.
A final decision on Chief of Police will be made by the Mayor and announced in the days following the public forum.
