East Providence Police Department Community Evaluation Salve Regina University ADJ 444

Vision Statement  “To create and maintain a pro-active partnership with our residential and business communities in an effort to enhance public safety and reduce the fear and incidence of crime within the City of East Providence. The police department's primary objective is to improve the quality of life in our City by identifying and addressing public safety and community concerns. The police department recognizes the importance of working with the community at large to develop programs to meet this objective and is committed to accomplishing its mission in a professional manner that promotes respect and dignity of all people.”

Vision and Mission Maintain and create pro-active relationships To enhance public safety and reduce fear Improve the quality of life Develop programs to meet the needs of citizens Accomplish this mission in a professional manner that promotes respect and dignity of all people

Introduction  97 sworn officers  EPPD is organized into 3 organizational components  Patrol Division: 55 officers  Detective Division: 17 officers  Services Division: 9 members  EPPD also has 18 civilian employees  Dispatchers: 12  Clerks: 6

 Goals of the East Providence Police Department:  To receive an evaluation on their overall performance from a citizen’s perspective  Under the direction of Chief Christopher Parella, Lt. James Nelson, Adjunct Prof. Robert S. Nutt  Interviews  Community Surveys

Methodology  Design of Questionnaire  Salve students designed the questionnaire under the supervision of Chief Parella and Professor Nutt  Questionnaires finalized  Questionnaires distributed via mail  Results collected and analyzed

Resource Materials  National Resource Materials  Department of Justice  United States Census Bureau  Local Internet Resources  City of East Providence website  East Providence Police Department website  2010 Bureau of Census Material

The Survey  Questions were designed to evaluate all aspects of the East Providence Police Department  The survey was divided into six sections  LIKERT scale and write in responses  5,000 randomly selected recipients  380 questionnaires were returned within time limit which resulted in a return rate of 8%, which is considered an adequate sample based on population

Interviews  Questions mirrored the goal of the survey  Interviews conducted at East Providence Senior Center and by telephone.

Data Analysis  Online Database  Reports of statistical analyses created for each section of the report  Percentages computed based upon the total number of answers to each question

Demographics

East Providence households  47,331 residents  20,235 households  Average household size : 2.29 individuals  82.2% Caucasian  4.1% Hispanic or Latino  5.8% African American  4.2% Two or more races  1.5% Asian  0.5% Native American

Rent/Own  88% of the respondents own their home  9% of the respondents rent  3% of the respondents did not answer Years lived in East Providence  79% more than ten years  14% from three to ten years  2% six months to two years  2% less than six months.  3% of the respondents did not answer

Gender  40% male respondents  56% female respondents  4% of the respondents did not answer Children residing in Home  69% surveyed did not have children living at home  26% did have children residing in their home  5% of the respondents did not answer

Age of Respondents  1% between 15 and 24 years of age  2% between 25 and 35 years of age  13% between 36 and 49 years of age  78% 50+ years of age  6% of respondents did not answer

LIKERT SAMPLE N/ANeeds Improvement SatisfactoryExcellent RECORDS: Professional: Courteous: Knowledgeable: Helpful:

East Providence Police Department Overall N/A12345 Professional: Courteous: Knowledgeable: Helpful: Negative %Positive % Professional1189 Courteous1189 Helpful1288 Knowledgeable1090

ANALYSIS  The proficiency of the sworn officers and staff of the EPPD was reflected in the overall eighty-nine percent (89%) approval rating. This category ranged in positive ratings from eighty percent (88%) positive “Helpful”, to ninety percent (90%) positive ratings in the characteristic of “Knowledgeable”.

ANALYSIS  Research in the comments section of the surveys revealed that one East Providence citizen even stated that “the knowledge and integrity and professionalism of this department exceeds beyond expectations.” It should be noted that the emphasis that is placed on in service training for the department is reflected in these positive ratings.

Nature of Contact  A total of 357 citizens responded to the question regarding contact with the EPPD, while 21 did not.  Of the 379 respondents, 201 or 53% reported that they had contact with the EPPD in the last three years.  156 or 41% reported no formal contact.

Nature of Contact In regards to time of contact, 232 constituents responded to the question, while 147 did not. Of the 232 responses, 157 or 41% experienced contact during the day. The total amount of respondents that said their encounter was at night was 75 or 20%

Nature of Contact  The most common response involving contact with the EPPD was “Other”, which was reported by 17% of the 379 responses. The second most reported nature of contact was “Traffic stops” which was reported at thirteen13%.

Nature of Contact  165 or 92% of the 180 respondents to this question indicated that the EPPD had an adequate response time, while 15 or 8% of citizens disagreed.  When asked if there were ethnic or language barriers between the EPPD and its citizens, 368 or 97% of citizens claimed there is no issue.

FAMILIARITY WITH SERVICES PROVIDED BY EPPD

Most Recognized Programs 1. Animal Control (67%) 2. DUI, Speed, and “Click It or Ticket” Enforcement Programs (66%) 3. Child Seat Belt Checks (53%) 4. VIN Checks (53%) 5. School Resource Officers (47%)

Programs or Services Recognized by less than 45% of Survey Respondents 6. Fingerprinting (43%) 7. Tobacco/Alcohol Compliance Checks (35%) 8. Public Record Requests (34%) 9. Citizen's Police Academy (32%)

Programs or Services Recognized by Less than 30% of the Survey Respondents 10. Harbor Master (29%) 11. Elderly Advocate (28%) 12. Vacant House Checks (19%) 13. Explorers (13%) 14. CrashReports.Com (12%) 15. Online Civilian Complaint (11%) 16. Code Red Mobile App (9%)

EPPD provides many beneficial services and programs to its community members It is recommended that EPPD publicize services through the following avenues: 1.Personal letters 2.Newspaper listings 3.Pamphlets 4. ing 5.Other media channels Individuals without internet services rely on alternative means to gather city news and info.

Quality of Life: Safety The following percentages represent the positive ratings (people who answered yes ) to the following questions:  93% - Do you feel safe walking in your neighborhood during the day?  37% - Do you feel safe walking in your neighborhood during the night?  75% - Do you feel your neighborhood is a safe environment to raise children?  89% - Do you feel safe in your home? The following percentages represent the negative ratings (people who answered no ) to the following questions:  7% - Do you feel safe walking in your neighborhood during the day?  63%- Do you feel safe walking in your neighborhood during the night?  25% - Do you feel your neighborhood is a safe environment to raise children?  11% - Do you feel safe in your home?

Quality of Life Issues  “Police Presence” received the highest number of responses with two hundred and twenty-four(324) and an overall eighty-three percent (76%) overall positive view  During the interviews, it was learned that individuals with special needs in East Providence felt that the police were very kind and made their presence known to them.

Quality of Life Issues  “Community relations”received the second highest number of responses at three hundred and six (306).  The high response rate and with an overall seventy-eight percent (78%) ranking of the circumstances, Satisfactory’ to ‘Needs Improvement’, demonstrates concern.  This would indicate that plans for an expansion of the School Resource Officer program may be warranted.

Quality of Life Analysis  The respondents to the survey believe that one of the major problems in the community is speeding. Many respondents would like to see speeding laws enforced even more.  Respondents point out that they would like to see an increased police presence in neighborhoods, communities, and schools.

Quality of Life Analysis Cont’d  Respondents suggested that there be more personal contact between the police and the residents in order to establish even greater rapport.  Some respondents suggested that more officers should be hired.  Respondents point out that the programs need to be made known to the public in a more widespread and accessible way.

CONCLUSION The EPPD received high reviews in how its officers are perceived by their residents. (slide #18) Concerns were raised about the safety of residents walking in their neighborhoods at night and in the Riverside area of The city The EPPD has many programs to serve their residents and should advertise these more.