Canine joins EPPD ranks; State Street culvert project stays on track

Council approves reappointment, new stop sign and retirement amendment

By Mike Rego
Posted 3/11/18

EAST PROVIDENCE — The East Providence Police Department will soon welcome over a dozen new officers to its ranks, including one special member of the four-legged variety.EPPD Chief Chris …

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Canine joins EPPD ranks; State Street culvert project stays on track

Council approves reappointment, new stop sign and retirement amendment

Posted

EAST PROVIDENCE — The East Providence Police Department will soon welcome over a dozen new officers to its ranks, including one special member of the four-legged variety.
EPPD Chief Chris Parella told the council at its March 6 meeting among the new recruits to the department is “Officer Chiko,” a fully trained four-year-old Belgian Malinois. According to online resources, the breed is used as a working dog for tasks including detection of odors such as explosives, accelerants (for arson investigation), and narcotics; tracking humans for suspect apprehension in police work; and search and rescue missions. As well, the U.S. Secret Service has used Belgian Malinois to guard the grounds of the White House.
“This is the first canine we’ve had in quite some time,” Chief Parella said. “He will be treat like all the other officers because that dog will give his life for the mission.”
The chief noted at one time, the department had three dogs available for use, the most notable being “Goliath,” a black lab. His training, though, was so-called single purpose for drugs. Chiko is training in both narcotics and human tracking. He comes to the department along with his handler Patrolman Jay Rainville from the North Smithfield PD. According to the NSPD, Chiko is trained in tracking, criminal apprehension, handler protection, evidence recovery and narcotics detection. The decorated duo joining together means the EPPD not only adds a pair of assets, but does so at no extra cost, the chief continued.
“It’s the first time in many years that we’ve had a dual purpose dog,” Chief Parella added. “And we plan on getting another very soon.”
Appointments
The council approved one appointment at its meeting last week: Elizabeth Peg, 74 Sweet Briar Ave., was reappointed to the Canvassing Authority at the recommendation of Council President Jim Briden.
State Street project
Department of Public Works Director Steve Coutu, at the request of Ward 2 Councilor Anna Sousa, provided the body with an update on the status of the State Street culvert project.
Mr. Coutu said the effort remains “on track” for construction to commence this summer during low flow periods of the Runnins River in July and August. The design of the new culverts has been completed. He said he expected to soon receive the final cost estimate for the project from contractor J.H. Lynch & Sons.
Because the land is located on the state line with Massachusetts at Seekonk, the design must be presented to the Seekonk Conversation Commission, which Mr. Coutu expects to be done at that board’s meeting in early April. The plan must also be shown and approved by the Massachusetts and Rhode Island Departments of Transportation because of its impact on traffic patterns. As well, the director noted eradication of invasive species is an ongoing aspect of the project.
Ordinances
Among the ordinances approved by the council last week, a stop sign will soon be installed at the intersection of Mauran Avenue (eastbound and westbound traffic) at Sixth Street, an action initiated by Councilwoman Sousa.
In addition, one of three revisions to ordinances pertaining to “Personnel, Pensions And Retirement” was approved last week. Affirmation was given to the subsection for “Administration of disability annuities,” and now reads, “Medical examinations of a member for consideration of a disability annuity (for a service-connected or nonservice-connected disability), as described in this section, shall be made upon application of a member acting on their own behalf, or upon application of the Chief of the department of which said member is employed if the Chief believes that the member is unable to perform his or her duties due to a disability, and that said disability is likely to be permanent.”
The two other amendments — service retirement annuity and death of a retired participant — were tabled at the request of Ward 4 Councilor Brian Faria, who sponsored each of the proposed changes.

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MIKE REGO

Mike Rego has worked at East Bay Newspapers since 2001, helping the company launch The Westport Shorelines. He soon after became a Sports Editor, spending the next 10-plus years in that role before taking over as editor of The East Providence Post in February of 2012. To contact Mike about The Post or to submit information, suggest story ideas or photo opportunities, etc. in East Providence, email mrego@eastbaymediagroup.com.