Public Safety Director Search Committee to Interview Candidates
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PAWTUCKET ??? The Public Safety Director Search Committee will begin interviews with candidates this week. The Public Safety Director will provide strategic leadership for the Department of Public Safety, which includes police, fire and the City???s Emergency Management Agency (EMA), and work to implement best practices, identify improvements, and provide high quality services to Pawtucket???s residents.
The Grebien Administration is focused on ensuring that Pawtucket is an ideal place to live, work, play, start a business and raise a family. Public safety is critical to creating the best quality of life for residents. The Public Safety Director will capitalize on the City???s $50 million annual investment in public safety by focusing on long-term priorities and implementing best practices, including, building community relationships, updating systems, and addressing aging facility needs. The full-time director will also address the increasing day-to-day challenges and growing needs placed upon fire, police, and EMA, as well as leadership transitions at the police department.
In March, the Search Committee held a public meeting to gather input on the attributes, experiences, priorities, and goals of the next public safety director. The Committee received fifty-three applications, nine of which withdrew or did not meet the minimum requirements. Based upon set criteria, five candidates were selected to move forward to the interview stage. After interviewing candidates, the committee will recommend finalists to the Mayor.??
Director of Public Safety Search Committee????
- Steven O’Donnell (Chair), Retired Colonel of the RI State Police and Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Providence YMCA
- Ken Bell, cyber-security expert and retired RI State Police Officer
- Antonio Brito, Pawtucket Resident
- Sandra Cano, City Councilor
- Gary Convertino, resident and Pawtucket Personnel Board Chair
- PJ Fox, Executive Director, The Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence
- Peter Gaynor, Director, RI Emergency Management Agency??
- Antonio J. Pires, Director of Public Safety/ Director of Administration
- Arthur Plitt, resident and President of the Neighborhood Alliance of Pawtucket
- Patricia St. Germain, resident and President of the Fairlawn Against Crime Team (FACT)
- Timothy Sanzi, Captain and Executive Officer, RI Department of Public Safety
- Larry Smith, Pastor, Woodlawn Baptist Church
- Dijini Tavares, Cape Verdean American Community Development (CACD)