Investigation of Police Chief Expected to End This Week

East Providence’s city manager expects to complete the investigation that led to the placing of the police chief on paid administrative leave last week by this Friday.

City Manager Peter Graczykowski also said that he expects to make a recommendation for further action to the East Providence Budget Commission as soon as possible after the investigation ends.

“I will try to move as quickly as possible,” Graczykowski said. “It is not fair to the police department or the city to be in limbo.” 

The city manager has to report the findings of the investigation into Police Chief Joseph Tavares to the Budget Commission because it has resumed control of all personnel matters at the request of Mayor James Briden.

Briden made that request “in the best interests of the city” soon after Graczykowski placed Tavares on administrative leave. He would not elaborate.

Graczykowski, too, would not elaborate on why he relieved Tavares of command of the police department. He said only that “it is in the best interest of the police department and the city to conduct an investigation of the police chief.”

He did say that the investigation involves more than one issue.

“There are a host of issues,” he said. “But it would not be fair to talk about specifics.” 

Det. Cpl. Kevin Feeney, president of the East Providence police union, also said in an email that “the union is holding off on any public comments until the HR investigation is complete.”

The city’s human resources director, Kathleen Waterbury, is leading the investigation along with a labor counsel hired by the city, Graczykowski said.

Exactly how the Budget Commission will handle the results of the investigation into Tavares is unknown. Graczykowski and Briden both serve on the Budget Commission.

A special meeting to handle this case and any other personnel matters for the city and the schools is anticipated.

In the meantime, Maj. Christopher Parella is in command of the police department.