Johnston to halt mutual aid to Prov.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - Beginning tomorrow, Providence will no longer receive mutual aid from the city of Johnston.

It's a story Eyewitness News has been following since May, when mayors from Johnston, North Providence and East Providence approached the city of Providence for reimbursement of the assistance, which they priced at $500 per call.

This week, Johnston's Mayor Joseph Polisena announced he would halt the practice of mutual aid from his city's rescue crews to Providence at 12:01 am Saturday, Aug. 25, unless payment is made.

"It has become such a drain on our system and our taxpayers, and putting my citizens at risk," said Mayor Polisena Tuesday.

Mayor Polisena believes Providence's problem could be remedied if the city adds one or two more rescues.

He says he would only extend his deadline for providing mutual aid if Providence laid out a plan to add those rescues by the end of the year.

Providence Public Safety Commissioner Steven Pare says his city has been working on a long term plan, one he hopes to implement in the next thirty days.

"What we'll do is organize those calls that are not urgent and calls that are of emergency nature," said Pare.

What that means is that you could wait a long time to get a ride to the hospital unless it's a true emergency.

Eyewitness News reached out to North Providence Mayor Charles Lombardi.

He says he will be making a decision on whether or not to pull mutual aid to Providence next week.

We have not heard back from the mayor of East Providence.