NIGHTLIFE Providence eyes clubs and bars to help fund patrols By Ian Donnis

Providence police are considering a plan to seek contributions from 42 downtown bars, restaurants, and nightclubs to fund beefed-up nightlife patrols on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights.

The proposal, partially intended to help address such perennial quality of life issues as littering, public urination, disorderly behavior, public drinking and loud music from vehicles, has drawn a mixed reaction from nightlife industry officials. "I like the concept, but it’s hard to find a means of billing that’s equitable," says Rich Lupo, the owner of Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel, adding that it might make sense to include other businesses, such as downtown food merchants and parking lot operators, in the plan. "Right now, everyone who owns a club is upset that they may be paying too much money."

The police department’s Providence Nuisance Task Force (PNTF) proposes the creation of a 24-officer uniformed unit, consisting of one lieutenant, two sergeants, and 21 patrol officers. The unit would be deployed Thursdays from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., and Fridays and Saturdays from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. The designated enforcement area would be from Dyer Street to Point Street, including the entire Jewelry District, and from Empire Street to Fountain Street.

The estimated total cost of the unit would be $3600 per evening, and under the PNTF’s plan, 42 downtown bars, clubs, and some restaurants would be asked to contribute based on their occupancy. AS220, for example, with an estimated capacity of 170 people, would be asked to contribute $62.90 per evening, while larger venues like Metropolis (capacity 700) and Lupo’s (1274) would respectively be asked to chip in $259 and $471.38

It seems likely that many of the smaller bars that now operate without a detail officer might be reluctant to help foot the cost of increased patrols. Nightlife officials may also raise the point that the city has a responsibility to staff the downtown with a minimum number of officers during peak hours. Police and nightlife officials expect to take part in more meetings on the PNTF proposal, but these have yet to be scheduled.

The situation comes after years in which some downtown and Jewelry District residents have tried various gambits to try to curb what they describe as excessive nightlife-related problems, such as vandalism and rowdyism.

The police department’s Providence Nuisance Task Force has been meeting weekly for the past two months to discuss the issue. A copy of the department’s plan cites the following additional goals: eliminating the deployment of officers from the neighborhoods to downtown at closing time; establishing a uninformed police presence to "maintain order, which can effectively and safely handle the influx of approximately 9800 club patrons on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings"; and establishing an alternative to the current assignment of detail officers in front of the largest liquor-serving establishments.

In separate interviews, Police Chief Dean Esserman and Mayor David N. Cicilline described vibrant nightlife as an important part of the city’s appeal, but they say the city needs to do a better job in policing it.

Esserman says the idea of funding patrols through contributions from nightlife establishments "doesn’t have to be the only solution, but we have to try something" because of a perceived "anything-goes" atmosphere in some elements of nightlife. It’s possible, he says, that the beefed-up enforcement effort might be tried on a pilot basis.