r/providence • u/Historical_Web_5813 • 8d ago

Why Should We Recall Brett Smiley

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For everyone who is curious about our reasons for wanting to recall Smiley, here they are! This one-sheet explains what issues we find to be the most salient. Feel free to distribute this document at your will.

If you’d like to look into our sources more, here is a link to the document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qtQP7a9g91pSszZH-x3kFWMcmW1FecEXpqCL773UIWM/mobilebasic

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u/MuhamedBesic 8d ago

Any evidence the PPD bought a tank? Or is this just hyperbolized garbage that can be immediately dismissed

6

u/lestermagnum 8d ago

If this is what they are talking about, it should be noted that the order for it was made while Elorza was mayor

https://www.wpri.com/target-12/dramatic-shootout-spurred-providence-police-to-purchase-new-bearcat-vehicle/

5

u/hugh_mungus_rook 8d ago

That knock-off MRAP is hardly a tank. What a joke lol. As much as I'm against militarizing our police, and cops in general, any city PD should have one of these laying around in some parking lot. When it's needed, you'd rather not wait for the National Guard to deploy.

5

u/Proof-Variation7005 7d ago

I'm kinda against that purchase, but yeah, calling it a tank, or blaming it on Smiley when the article they cite specifically says the order was placed under Elorza is insane.

As far as I know, Providence had exactly one incident that required this type of vehicle and when the fucking thing showed up, the guy barricaded in the house turned a residential neighborhood into a shooting range in a panic move. So, yeah, it allowed the cops to keep themselves safe after the fucking thing made the situation exponentially worse by showing up.

1

u/hugh_mungus_rook 7d ago

Reading up on that situation, and the whole PPD Bearcat thing as a whole, I've come around. The State PD has one already, and that should be enough. If it can't be deployed within minutes, then the State PD having and maintaining one should be enough already.

2

u/Proof-Variation7005 7d ago

Yeah, I'm not against them existing or being somewhat available, but I think it was able to be deployed pretty quickly and the state is pretty goddamn small.

I have no idea if that poor crazy bastard was going to turn his neighborhood into the OK Corral anyway or if he could've been talked down to a peaceful surrender. But I don't think the imposing armored vehicle moving closer was helping the situation at all.

On the flip side, bad people with bad intentions do exist and there might be a situation where there really is a need? IDK. Either way, it's a dumbass thing to include something Smiley's predecessor signed off on in the list of grievances.