Diversity in Rhode Island law enforcement passed a new milestone Friday with the Univer-sity's appointment of Mark Porter as Brown's chief of police and director of public safety. When Porter begins his duties in April, he will become the first black police chief at Brown - and the first in Rhode Island.
"He is the first black police chief this state has ever seen. ... This is a pivotal point for the entire Rhode Island police community. It is history in the making," said Lt. Charles Wilson of the Rhode Island College Campus Police. Wilson is the president of the Rhode Island Minority Police Association and vice president of the National Association of Black Law Enforcement Officers.
Upon hearing of the University's selection of Porter, Wilson informed national minority law enforcement leaders. Officers from around the Northeast are planning to travel to Brown for Porter's swearing-in, he said.
Wilson said Rhode Island law enforcement agencies have fewer minorities than those of other states, but Brown's force is unusually diverse.
Of the 75 Department of Public Safety employees, 21 are minorities, including 18 who are black. Four of the 10 sworn line supervisory officers - holding the rank of sergeant, lieutenant, captain or colonel - are minorities, according to DPS.
By comparison, Wilson said, he is the only racial minority on RIC's 22-person force. The Community College of Rhode Island has two black officers, and the University of Rhode Island has none. Statewide, about 300 of Rhode Island's 6,500 law enforcement officers are racial minorities, and only 11 are in leadership positions above the rank of sergeant, he said.
"It is most important that the police department be reflective of the community it serves," said Capt. Emil Fioravanti, DPS interim chief. "Where it has not been reflective, it has caused problems."
The diversity at DPS "has typically been above the mainstream," Wilson said.
Porter said he sees the makeup of the DPS force as evidence of the University's effort to improve diversity in the department.
"Diversity is always an issue. It is a challenge to recruit law enforcement minorities - especially women and officers of color," he said.
"Brown really works hard to ensure that they have a diverse pool" for hiring DPS employees, Porter said. "Clearly Brown is doing something right, and the numbers reflect this."
"(Having a diverse police department) lends credibility with the minority community if there were issues of bias," Fioravanti said.
Wilson stressed the importance of having minorities in police forces, especially in administrative positions.
"Every agency will benefit from hiring officers of color. ... When you have people who look like you, come from the same places as you and have the same experiences as you, the community as a whole is well-served," he said.
"We look for honesty and commitment to professionalism and community," Wilson added. "In law enforcement leaders of color, we look for their commitment not only to professionalism but for their commitment in making law enforcement responsive and responsible to the community."
According to Wilson, diversity is especially important for the success of community policing - a program the University intends to implement under Porter's leadership.
Under the proposed community policing program, officers are assigned to specific regions of the campus and encouraged to interact with people who live or work in their region.
"Diversity and community policing go hand-in-hand," Wilson said.
As the highest-ranking black police officer in the state, Porter will be catapulted into a leadership role for minorities in Rhode Island law enforcement, Wilson said.
"Whether he wanted to be or not, Chief Porter is going to be the senior statesman for minority police in Rhode Island," he said.
Wilson added in an e-mail to The Herald, "Not only must he provide leadership for (his) own agency and the community it serves, he will also be called upon, and indeed expected, to be a leader in the community outside the environs of the campus. ... As the senior law enforcement officer of color, we will look to him for strength and guidance, knowing that if he is allowed to fail then we all will fail in our purpose."
Porter's colleagues are quick to point out that Porter is a capable leader ready to handle any challenges that face him.
"I think it is a wonderful appointment. I think Brown is fortunate and Providence is fortunate," said Col. Dean Esserman, chief of the Providence Police Department.
Esserman said the PPD and DPS have increasingly worked together and forged a successful partnership over the last two years - a trend he looks forward to continuing with Porter, he said.
Wilson said of Porter, "I have found him professionally and personally to be very personable, down to earth and approachable. ... He is going to be an excellent chief, a good friend to the community and someone the Brown community will be exceptionally proud of."
