Tuesday, January 9, 2023
Mayor Brett P. Smiley and Providence Police Chief Colonel Oscar L. Perez today announced the promotion of Timothy O’Hara to Commander of the Providence Police Department.
O’Hara has served the Providence Police Department for 28 years, most recently serving as Major and overseeing the Administration Division. O’Hara has had several supervisory roles throughout his career including Commanding Officer of the Mounted Command, Commanding Office of the Violent Crime Task Force and Commanding Officer of District 1, overseeing the Downtown area. This variety of experience has provides O’Hara with an in-depth understanding of the many roles and priorities within the Providence Police Department.
“Commander O’Hara has spent his career selflessly serving our city and I am certain he will excel in his new capacity,” said Mayor Brett Smiley. “Under their leadership, Chief Perez and Commander O’Hara will continue the great progress we’ve seen over the last year and will keep the Providence Police Department as one of the best in the country.”
Major O’Hara is a highly decorated officer and the recipient of numerous awards and commendations including the First Place Rhea Archambault Award in 1997 for Police Officer of the Year, the Rhea Archambault Awards in 1996, and 2001, the City Council Award, the F.O.P. Award, and the Outside Agency Award. He has been a member of the Gang Intervention Unit and the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force. He was the Chairman of the Providence Police Commendation Board from 2014 to 2017. He was a Board member of the Downtown Improvement District and Co-Chair of the Downtown Security Network. In 2018, Major O’Hara attended the Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP) at Boston University and is an alumnus of Leadership R.I. 2020. In February 2023, Major O’Hara was appointed to the Rhode Island Parole Board by Governor Dan McKee.
“I am proud to give this distinction to my long-time colleague Timothy O’Hara, who every day exemplifies what it means to serve our community with empathy and integrity,” said Colonel Oscar Perez. “His deep and varied expertise will be invaluable as we work to improve local public safety and better serve our residents.”
O’Hara will succeed Kevin Lanni as Commander and will be charged with overseeing daily operations and rank and file of the Providence Police Department.