Rhode Island leaders react to week of violence

By Bianca Buono

bbuono@abc6.com

@BBuonoABC6

Community and state leaders came together in Providence Friday to address this past week of violence in an unprecedented press conference

"I wanted to pull the community together as quickly as possible to say we’re going to stand together, we’re going to be unified, we’re going to reject violence,” said Governor Gina Raimondo.

A number of law enforcement officials were among those in attendance. Many of them are familiar with the Dallas Police Department.

"We have a couple of Providence police officers who formally served on the Dallas PD,” said Providence Police Chief Hugh Clements.

Providence Police Chief Hugh Clements says this era of rising tension with police reminds him of tough times in the past.

"You know I was a patrolman during the times of the aftermath of Rodney King and it was a tense time even here on the east coast and that’s before the proliferation of social media,” Clements said.

"To judge the actions of a few officers that used deadly force and then condemn the profession isn’t the way to move forward as a nation,” said Providence Public Safety Commissioner Steven Pare.

Pare was referring to the deadly police shootings in both Louisiana and Minnesota.

"Our law enforcement community has done such a good job,” said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse.

Friday, leaders applauded Rhode Island’s law enforcement for its strong community relationships; but Providence’s NAACP chapter president Jim Vincent says Dallas was known for having one of the most progressive departments in the nation.

"It can happen anywhere. It can happen here. So don’t be lulled into some sense of complacency because our relationships are fine or good or dandy,” Vincent said.

Vincent added that Providence is on the right track with its multiple community outreach programs, but leaders say they can do better.

© WLNE-TV 2016