Statement of the Rhode Island Police Chiefs’ Association
PROVIDENCE — The following is a statement from the Rhode Island Police Chiefs’ Association:
“The Rhode Island Police Chiefs’ Association offers our sympathies to the loved ones of Tyre Nichols and the Memphis community.
“The actions of the five former Memphis Police officers demonstrated a lack of humanity, a breach of morals, and a blatant disregard for the oath law enforcement officers take to protect and serve. Their actions do not represent Rhode Island’s police officers, nor the progress that we have made in the profession across our state in recent years.
“Exemplary police officers seek to make their community a little bit better everyday, and do their job guided by a clear set of values and morals. However, their success is also dependent on having access to proper training and working under appropriate supervision.
“In Rhode Island, we work everyday to ensure our residents are served professionally and compassionately by officers who are well-trained, of high character and committed to public safety for all. As police chiefs, it is our duty to make sure that we are hiring and developing officers who meet the high standards of behavior that we expect and that our residents deserve. It is also our responsibility to make available the modern training opportunities and resources our officers and command staff need to provide professional, high-quality service.
“The Rhode Island Police Chiefs’ Association is currently in the process of completing a job task analysis, which will clearly outline the duties, responsibilities and professional expectations for potential police officers in Rhode Island. Once completed, it will help us assess and modify our current police recruit training curriculum in accordance with those identified expectations.
“We also recently met with Gov. Dan McKee to discuss the possibility for a professional training facility that would serve all of Rhode Island’s police recruits, as well as offer in-service training for current officers and department leadership.
“The initiatives that we are pursuing will continue to build on the progress that we have made, with the goal of ensuring that we in Rhode Island are hiring and developing officers and future police leaders who will be assets to their communities and agencies, and will carry the law enforcement profession forward.
“Rhode Island’s law enforcement agencies work everyday to keep their communities safe, and the members of the Rhode Island Police Chiefs’ Association remain committed to ensuring this work is done to the highest degree of professionalism and excellence.”
