Police chief urges hiring of deputy
Since being appointed Police Chief for the City of Woonsocket on July 31, 2016, I have worked to make the Police Department better in a variety of ways. First and foremost, our mission is to be responsive to the main concerns of the public, which is crime, fear of crime and public disorder affecting the quality of life concerns of the residents of Woonsocket. To try and accomplish this there have been changes made which involve adjusting and creating new policies and procedures. Various new equipment, technology and reinstating a K-9 Unit are a few of the ways the department is helping its officers improve the way that they do their work of serving the people of Woonsocket. These improvements were a big part of why the department was awarded accreditation by the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association in March of this year. This was accomplished by the hard work of the entire department, but especially the leadership of the department.
The department’s senior leadership is currently comprised of myself and three captains. Together as a team we have been able to accomplish the things I have mentioned and more. I rely on their assistance in accomplishing goals and objectives as well as the overall day-to-day supervision and operation of the department. I also look for their opinion on a variety of issues every day. One area in particular is personnel issues, including discipline as well as contractual interpretations on different matters that arise. Captains in the Woonsocket Police Department are members of IBPO 404 and are covered by the collective bargaining and represented by that union. The potential for a conflict of interest for them between their management responsibilities and being a union member can and does exist at times.
Allowing for the Woonsocket Police Department to regain the position of Deputy Chief, I feel, is a first and important step in restructuring the Police Department. As part of my review of the department for the last 11 months, there are several organizational changes that I feel need to be made. These changes are going to have to be made during contract negotiations with IBPO 404. It is important that I have an executive officer who I can confide in and assist me during these negotiations and other situations that will arise. Having this position is in following best practices for the efficient and effective operation for a police department of Woonsocket’s size. I realize there is a financial expense to adding this position and I don’t take that lightly. During my 43 years in law enforcement and 17 years as a member of the senior command staff in two departments, I realize that money is tight and every expense affects taxpayers in the community.
With that being said, I feel if this request is filled it will be well-justified. It will immediately, and in the long term, make the Woonsocket Police Department operate better. Striving to do better is something that we talk about and try to do everyday at the Woonsocket Police Department. Our goal is to provide the best police service possible to the residents of Woonsocket, and I feel strongly this is another step towards that goal.
—Chief Thomas F. Oates III Woonsocket Police Department