Pawtucket Residents Invited to Meet and Greet with Acting Police Chief Tina Goncalves

Pawtucket, RI – Pawtucket’s newly appointed Acting Police Chief invites community residents and business leaders to a meet and greet at the City Council Chambers at Pawtucket City Hall, 121 Roosevelt Ave, Pawtucket, RI on June 1, 2017 from 630 pm to 8:00 pm. Chief Goncalves and members of her command staff will be on hand to take resident’s questions and suggestions.
Chief Tina Goncalves who was recently appointed to Acting Police Chief by Mayor Donald Grebien wants to kick off her tenure as acting chief by opening channels of communication with the community she serves. She will share her vision for the department and ask for community feedback to help guide the department’s approach to public safety.
“I want to engage the community at all levels and listen to their concerns and ideas so that we can provide the highest level of community service and public safety”, said Chief Goncalves. “We want to involve our residents, business leaders, community partners and youth in helping us to devise strategies to combat neighborhood issues and crime.”
Chief Goncalves, a Pawtucket native and graduate of Tolman High School, started her career in law enforcement as an intern with the Pawtucket Police Department. She has been a sworn member of the department for the past 18 years and has served in various capacities in the Patrol Division, Special Squad, and Prosecution Division. She was most recently the Major overseeing the Major Crime Unit, Special Squad and Prosecution Division. Chief Goncalves is a licensed attorney in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
As part of her community outreach Chief Goncalves will host a monthly “Coffee with the Chief” at local establishments where she and members of her command staff will be accessible to the public to listen directly to their suggestions and concerns. Chief Goncalves also intends to work with the Pawtucket School Department to help arrange town hall style meetings with students to get their perspective and input, but more importantly to build trust and partnership with our youth. “Public safety is a partnership between the community and the police. It is important that we involve our residents both young and old in helping us to problem solve”, said Chief Goncalves.