By DONNA KENNY KIRWAN

EAST PROVIDENCE — Based on what was categorized as “a cumulative effect” of complaints about his leadership, members of the East Providence police union recently took a no confidence vote in Police Chief Hubert J. Paquette.

At a meeting on March 12, about 55 percent or 48 officers voted against the chief, who was appointed in 2003. Thirty-four officers voted to support the chief, while approximately six officers abstained.
Detective Cpl. John Rossi, union president, said that over the last couple of years, police officers have raised concerns about what they see as deficiencies in Paquette’s leadership as well as unfair disciplinary practices.
However, Rossi said that “the straw that broke the camel’s back” was Paquette’s alleged failure to provide a timely response to back up officers involved in the Feb. 27 incident leading to the death of Leonel Farias of James Street.
 “It was 48 hours before he responded to the press, when he knew well in advance that there was no wrongdoing on the part of the police officers,” Rossi said of Paquette. As chief, “he should have immediately defended the officers,” Rossi added.
Days after the Farias incident, Rossi said, union members had a petition circulated for a meeting.
Prior to that meeting, Rossi said he and other union leaders met with City Manager Richard Brown to discuss the pending vote. He said Brown “acknowledged there were ‘problems,’” but told the officers that he wanted the chance to try and work something out.
Rossi believes the meeting with Brown did have some effect — he thought the number of votes against Paquette would otherwise have been higher.
“It really comes down to a lack of communication,” Rossi said.
Brown was unavailable for comment, as was Paquette, who is away on vacation until the end of the month. Rossi said the union had wanted to keep silent about the no confidence action until Paquette returned from his trip.
Farias, a 40-year-old man with a history of mental illness, died after what was described by the chief as a “violent struggle” with police officers. Police had been called to the house at 153 James St. by family members after Farias became disruptive. When police arrived, he was reportedly outside waving a steak knife.
According to reports, police officers tried to subdue Farias and he was eventually handcuffed. While being subdued, he continued to struggle with police and at some point lost consciousness. He was taken to Rhode Island Hospital and pronounced dead.
Farias’ family has alleged that the police used excessive force; two family members have said they saw officers kicking and beating him.
Paquette later issued a press release saying that the officers had “exercised great restraint during a potentially deadly encounter. Rather than use deadly force, the officers risked great personal injury in an attempt to restrain Farias.”
He added that some officers had also sustained injuries during the struggle with Farias.
Paquette was also criticized by the attorney general for an alleged breach of protocol for not reporting the incident until 15 hours after Farias’ death. Paquette later acknowledged the error, saying that the department had mistakenly interpreted the protocol surrounding the death.
The attorney general’s office is investigating the incident.