Officials' statements on drug arrests

(WPRI) - Statements from Rhode Island officials on the arrest of three Providence Police officers in a drug sting:

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Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline:

"The arrest today of three Providence Police officers is gravely disappointing and has very serious consequences. Good law enforcement relies on the public’s trust and confidence in the police department and any time a police officer engages in this kind of behavior, that trust and confidence is undermined. This behavior does not represent the good and honorable work of the great men and women of the Providence Police Department and if these allegations are proven, these individuals must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

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Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch:

"Today's arrests are yet another stark reminder that no one is above the law, and that a police officer who breaks the law makes the job of the many honest police officers even more difficult.

"These officers have violated their oath. Violated the trust the people have placed in them. They have violated the law and will be held accountable.

"We ask a great deal of our police officers. Police officers have difficult and often dangerous jobs. And although it is easy to focus on the fact that three police officers are in custody today for violating not just their oaths as officers but our criminal laws, it is equally important to remember that within a very honorable profession, they are thankfully the exception. I remain convinced that virtually all police officers find the allegations of criminality today as disturbing and offensive as I do.

"Over the past four months, the officers who worked on this investigation conducted many hours of physical surveillance, in addition to monitoring four electronic interceptions that were authorized by the Presiding Justice of the Superior Court, dating back to mid-November. They worked many nights, every weekend and several holidays. They, and their families, have sacrificed much in order to complete this investigation.

"Today's arrests mark the culmination of months of work primarily by the Rhode Island State Police, with the assistance of prosecutors from my office, namely Assistant Attorney General Pamela Chin, chief of my office's Narcotics and Organized Crime Unit, and Assistant Attorney General William Ferland as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

"I would also like to thank the FBI's Special Agent in Charge for New England, Warren Bamford, who made his agents available to assist in this investigation, and to Colonel Marian J. McGovern of the Massachusetts State Police, whose agency also provided invaluable assistance to the State Police and my office.

"These arrests certainly mark a critical point in this investigation, but the investigation is far from over. I can assure the public that during the days and weeks ahead we will continue to review the actions of the officers implicated today to ensure that the police work they did is closely scrutinized, and to ensure that justice is done."

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Providence Schools Superintendent Thomas M. Brady (one of the officers arrested was a school resource officer):

"The school resource officers assigned to our schools are entrusted with the important work of protecting, mentoring and guiding our students. In the course of their work and their daily interactions, they also earn the respect and trust of the students they work with. These officers are valuable members of our school communities.

"We are deeply dismayed and surprised to learn that, should these allegations be proven true, one of our school resource officers has betrayed that trust."