After a spate of recent incidents, Pawtucket Mayor Donald R. Grebien, City Councilor Mary Bray and Chief of Police Paul King have announced several measures that they are taking to ensure the safety of city residents. These measures represent short-term solutions that will address the recent pattern of activity, and long-term measures that take a more holistic approach to resolving the issue.

“I want to reassure the residents of Pawtucket that our Police Department is doing everything possible to address this issue,” said Mayor Grebien. “The Police Department has been fully empowered and we will be providing additional targeted resources to this matter,” continued Mayor Grebien.

The City’s Neighborhood Response Unit, led by Captain Mike Newman, will be reallocating their resources now that school is out for the summer, and directing those resources to areas of the city that will benefit from them. The City’s Bicycle Squad will also be concentrating their efforts in previously identified areas to assist with additional manpower and providing a visible presence in the community.

With July 4^th approaching and the much anticipated fireworks displays, Pawtucket is expecting to have additional visitors in the city. The Pawtucket Police Department has been partnering with neighboring communities to ensure that the lines of communication between departments are open and they are able to share information that may assist one another. Colonel Steven G. O’Donnell of the Rhode Island State Police has offered to make personnel available to Pawtucket and the City will be incorporating State Troopers with their normally scheduled patrols in a supporting role. This measure will pair the local knowledge of the Pawtucket Police Department that patrols our streets daily, with the considerable resources at the disposal of the Rhode Island State Police.

Also, Mayor Grebien has been in contact with the Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence and is coordinating a summer jobs program. In this program, at risk youth will get the opportunity to earn a paycheck, receive needed training, and allow them to become invested in the Pawtucket community. P.J. Fox, Executive Director for the Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence, is working with the Administration finalize details and implement the plan in the city.

“I again want to emphasize that safety is our top priority and we will continue to take the necessary steps to make sure that this pattern of activity is put to a stop,” concluded Grebien.