Providence, RI: Mayor Brett P. Smiley, Colonel Oscar L. Perez, Jr. and City Council President Rachel Miller will join together with members of the police department, community and family and friends, to celebrate the legacy of Retired Chief of Police, Colonel Hugh T. Clements, Jr. at a dedication ceremony of the Providence Public Safety Complex Auditorium. The ceremony will be held on Friday, March 1, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. Colonel Clements selflessly served the City of Providence for nearly 40 years, before his retirement on January 27, 2023, to join the Department of Justice as the Director of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office).
“Colonel Clements displayed unparalleled commitment to the Providence Police Department and the City of Providence for nearly four decades,” said Mayor Brett P. Smiley. “Hugh’s dedication, leadership and integrity exemplify the core pillars of the Providence Police Department. The impact he had on this department will continue to live on through the women and men who serve our city each day.”
“Chief Clements is a selfless leader who represented our city and police department with respect and dignity for 37 years,” said Council President Rachel Miller. “Hugh never strayed far from his roots as a patrol officer, where each shift starts in the public safety auditorium for roll call and a briefing of what officers could expect that day or night. It’s fitting the City Council overwhelmingly passed a resolution naming the auditorium after Colonel Hugh T. Clements, Jr. I hope current and future officers draw inspiration from this name and the remarkable example of excellence Chief Clements has set.”
“Hugh served with excellence and embodied the true meaning of the words Providence’s Finest,” said Colonel Oscar Perez. “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. It was an honor to work alongside Colonel Clements for a number of years and there is no one is more deserving to receive this distinguished recognition.”
“I am truly humbled and enormously grateful for this recognition. This was more than a job – it was an honor to serve the people of Providence said Hugh T. Clements, Jr. “But no one person can do this work alone; and this is a testament to the partnerships we had and the tremendous work we accomplished together.”
Colonel Clements began his distinguished public safety career in 1985 as a night Patrol Officer in the Providence Police Department Uniform Division. Over the next 26 years, he rose through the ranks, working in both the Special Investigations Bureau and the Detective Bureau, where he played active roles in several major investigations. He later served as Deputy Chief and was appointed as Acting Chief of Police in July 2011, and on Jan. 6, 2012, he was appointed as the 37th Chief of the Department and promoted to the rank of Colonel.
He has worked closely with major law enforcement, civil rights, and community organizations. He is the recipient of numerous commendations for outstanding police work and devotion to duty, including being recognized with the Providence Police Department Chief’s Award three times and the White House Champions of Change Award for Reducing Drug Use and Building a Healthier America.
Colonel Clements received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of Rhode Island and a Bachelor of Science degree in the Administration of Justice from Roger Williams University. He holds a Master of Science degree in criminal justice from Boston University. He attended many specialty schools throughout his career, including the New York State Police Williams Homicide School, the Illinois State Police Supervisor’s School, and the ATF National Gang School in California, and in 2005 he graduated from the Senior Management Institute for Police put on by the Harvard Kennedy School at Boston University.
WHO: Mayor Brett P. Smiley, Colonel Oscar L. Perez, Jr., City Council President Rachel Miller, Colonel Hugh T. Clements, Jr, Members of the Providence Police Department, Providence community members
WHAT: Public Safety Complex Auditorium in honor of Colonel Hugh T. Clements, Jr
WHERE: Providence Public Safety Complex, 325 Washington St, Providence, RI 02903
WHEN: Friday, March 1, 2024, at 11:00AM
