Providence police
controversial raises

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - A controversy is brewing after several police officers have received checks without approval from Providence city council.

The state is hundreds of millions in debt, so why are thousands of dollars being handed out? Eyewitness News obtained the list of the officers who received those hefty retro checks and they do include some of the city's top cops, but one city council tells us no one has the legal authority to cut those checks.

The city of Providence faces a multimillion dollar deficit, but five of the city's police officers, including two who are now retired, received checks in the mail for two years retroactive pay. One city councilor says the payments were shot down during budget negotiations and tells Eyewitness News the administration had no legal authority to make the payments.

The five Providence Police officers received checks anywhere from $14,000 to $18,000 for retroactive pay, costing taxpayers more than $84,000. Providence Mayor David Cicilline says it's a practice of basic fairness, that the city has executed it over the year.

"It's been the practice of the city that when unionized officers receive increases in compensation through a negotiating contract or arbitration that the nonunion of the leadership of the department receives thee thing, says Mayor David Cicilline.

The Providence finance committee had a meeting at city hall to discuss raises for the city's chief.