Providence Police Union responds to PERA report on ICE arrest

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Providence Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 3 responded to a Providence External Review Authority report from Aug. 22 that said that officers violated a city ordinance and police policy by assisting ICE agents with an arrest.

The original report said that after reveiwing police bodycam video, police reports, and interviewed witnesses, it was determined that police assisted ICE in an arrest by “establishing a perimeter, providing crowd control, gathering intelligence and coordinating tactical response.”

The FOP’s response characterized the PERA report as “trash,” and that the allegation that officers assisted ICE agents was “far from the truth.”

The union said that the police response was in order to de-escalate the situation at the request of a homeowner where an armed standoff with the arrestee might have occurred, and also said that ICE told officers that the arrestee was potentially violent and allegedly wanted for murder in Honduras.

“Our officers acted with extreme professionalism, courtesy, and calmness,” the union said. “They protected all present and used de-escalation tactics to help resolve what could have been a lengthy and violent encounter.”

The full statement can be read below: