“I am truly humbled and enormously grateful for this recognition,” said Director Hugh T. Clements, Jr. in his address to the large group that turned out to honor him at the March 1, 2024, ceremony dedicating the Providence Public Safety Complex Auditorium to him. “But what I would like you to take away from this event is that it is not about me. It’s about us. We all did this, together”.

Reflecting on his years as an officer and later, chief of Rhode Island’s City of Providence Police Department (PPD), Clements, who was appointed Director of the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) in 2023, spoke about the dedication of the PPD’s sworn and civilian staff as well as the community partners whose efforts have led to the high level of safety and quality of life in Providence.

He thanked everybody in the room for their support, saying that the honor they were bestowing on him should be a tribute to all of them—the city and community leaders, judges, clergy, social service partners, and other law enforcement agencies, as well as the men and women of the PPD.

“This is a testament to the partnerships we had and the work we accomplished together, so I hope you will look at this as a celebration of what we all did . . . in making this city a safer and better place to live.”

Though, as Clements emphasized, a great deal of credit for the department’s achievements goes to the men and women who served under him, the law enforcement and city leaders in attendance praised his leadership as essential to PPD’s accomplishments.

A Steadfast Commitment to Building Trust and Engaging with the Community

Introducing the dedication ceremony, Deputy Chief Colonel Timothy O’Hara called Clements “a man who created a blueprint for making connections with [the] community, civic leaders, elected officials and law enforcement partners.”

The following speaker, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley, agreed, describing Clements as “the driving force behind the transformation of our police department,” adding that his “steadfast commitment to building trust, fostering positive relationships and engaging with the community has set the standard for law enforcement agencies across the country.”

“Your leadership implemented innovative strategies and led initiatives that addressed needs of policing a diverse community which changed as you were serving. Yet you were able to adapt and meet each community’s unique needs as they changed,” he said.

In describing the high regard residents have for Clements, City Council President Rachel Miller told the story of a walk she took with him in downtown Providence last year, saying that many people stopped him on the street.

“It was not just because they recognized him as the former chief but because they had an experience with him. He touched their lives and their families’ lives. Often, officers are with people on their worst days, but Clements led the force by example, making sure they were heard and respected in those moments.

“It’s a testament to the kind of leader he is that each of our 15 city councilors had a story about the ways he impacted their lives and the lives of residents. And the resolution (to name the building after him) passed unanimously.”

PPD Chief Colonel Oscar L. Perez praised Clements’ integrity, compassion, and humility, adding that “Under his leadership, his commitment to building trust within the community was unwavering. And through his efforts, relationships were established, and initiatives were created to bridge the gap between cops and citizens they serve. Let this auditorium serve as a testament to his contributions and a reminder of the impact one individual can have on an entire organization.”

Four Decades of Service to the People of Providence and American Law Enforcement

Throughout the event, there were many tributes highlighting Clements’s law enforcement accomplishments, partnerships, and community relationships, which span almost 40 years, starting in 1985 when he began his public safety career as a patrol officer in the PPD.

Rising through the ranks, working in the Special Investigations Bureau and the Detective Bureau, he played active roles in several major investigations. And in 2012, he was appointed as the 37th chief of the department and promoted to the rank of colonel.

During those years, Director Clements worked closely with major law enforcement, civil rights, and community organizations, and was the recipient of numerous commendations for outstanding police work, including the White House Champions of Change Award for Reducing Drug Use and Building a Healthier America.

Since his appointment in January 2023, Hugh T. Clements, Jr. has been supporting the work of law enforcement agencies throughout the United States as the Director of the COPS Office, which advances community policing programs through grant funding and technical assistance to help local, state, tribal and territorial law enforcement keep their communities safe and build relationships of mutual trust and respect with the people they serve.

Faye C. Elkins
Sr. Technical Writer
COPS Office

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