City haul, Pt. II

Ed Fitzpatrick is on the mark today in citing a remarkable change in the culture of the Providence Police Department, something I had touched on here. This improvement is a key accomplishment of Providence Mayor David Cicilline's tenure at City Hall.

[T]he Providence Police Department is developing a reputation for professionalism and innovation. It is using technology to analyze and respond to crime trends, and with its emphasis on community policing and holding district commanders accountable, it is becoming a model for other police departments. Others are noticing Providence had 13 murders last year, down from 14 the previous year and 30 in 2000.

Yet the damning report on the city's sewer department, delivered last night by WPRI's Tim White, is a black eye for Providence, and the behavior it describes is reminiscent of some of what Cicilline vowed to do away with when he became mayor.