PERA report: Providence police assisted ICE operation against city ordinance, police policy

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Providence External Review Authority (PERA) has determined that a Providence Police Department response to an area where ICE agents were conducting enforcement action on July 13 on Alverson Avenue violated city ordinance and Providence police policy, according to a report from PERA.

The report’s introductory letter, signed by Executive Director Ferene Karoly, reads in part:

We have determined that the police department was in violation of both city ordinance and police department policy when they impermissibly assisted ICE agents in conducting civil immigration enforcement operations.

The organization reviewed police bodycam video, police reports, and interviewed witnesses in the incident, according to the statement.

The PERA report alleges that Providence police actions violated Providence city ordinance, including establishing a perimeter, providing crowd control, gathering intelligence and coordinating tactical response in the ICE operation.

PERA also alleges that officers failed to record the incident continuously on their body worn cameras (BWC) “during pivotal operational moments.”

The report states in part:

Several BWC devices were muted or inactive during suspect location confirmation, coordination with ICE, and suspect surrender. No exigent circumstances were cited, nor was any report documenting the interruptions provided, constituting a breach of the department’s BWC policy.

The PERA report alleges that Providence Police Sergeant Peter Salmons “confirmed suspect’s presence upstairs and relayed to ICE. Provided clothing description matching suspect.”

PERA also alleged in the report that “Sgt. Salmons facilitated surrender through landlord negotiation.”

Also according to PERA, Providence Police Lieutenant William Brown “positioned ICE agents for arrest.”

Bodycam video captured Lt. Brown saying to ICE agents “If he comes out, I want your people to grab him…we’ll help you,” according to the PERA report.

PERA said that there is no evidence that Ivan Rene Mendoza-Meza, the reported subject pursued in the ICE operation, posed an imminent threat, and that there was no criminal warrant.

Meza is a Honduran national and an alleged self-admitted MS-13 gang member, according to ICE.

ICE said Meza had three prior charges for fentanyl trafficking in Rhode Island.

At the time of the incident, Providence Director of Communications Josh Estrella told ABC6:

Police officers remained in the area to maintain the safety of the crowd and to support residents in the area. While officers were on the scene to document the accident, the individual wanted by ICE came out of the house and turned himself in to ICE agents. As is protocol, police officers did not assist ICE agents.

According to Estrella, Providence police arrived at the scene in response to a report of multiple vehicle accidents, one of them involving ICE agents.

The PERA report concludes recommending that the Providence Police Department “establishes and releases clear operational guidelines on department’s response to ICE or other federal agency requests for assistance related to immigration enforcement activities within 10 days.”

PERA also recommended that the Providence Police Department hold a department-wide training on these updated guidelines within 30 days of their establishment.

PERA also recommended that the Providence Police Department discipline both Lt. Brown and Sgt. Salmons for alleged bodycam policy violations.

According to PERA’s website, the organization is a “civilian oversight body that investigates allegations of police misconduct.”

It is comprised of eight community volunteers and one appointee of the mayor of Providence.

A Providence police spokesperson provided the following, updated statement Friday afternoon:

The Providence Police Department has received and reviewed PERA’s documented conclusions and recommendations regarding the recent incident. Given interactions between local departments and federal agents across the country, the Department is already developing a training bulletin to provide additional direction and to reinforce consistent practices regarding interactions with federal agencies, particularly U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This effort reflects our ongoing commitment to ensuring all officers understand the Department’s approach and expectations. The Providence Police Department remains dedicated to fairness, accountability and building trust with all members of our community.