Chief’s Office

Chief of Police

Colonel Oscar L. Perez
(401) 243-6401

Providence Police Department Deputy Chief Oscar Perez has most recently served as the Commanding Officer of the Administration Division. Deputy Chief Perez was born in Medellin, Colombia and moved with his family to the United States at the age of thirteen.

In 1994, Deputy Chief Perez was appointed to the Providence Police Department as a Patrolman. Over the past 29 years, Deputy Chief Perez has served in various capacities and supervisory positions including within the Patrol and Investigative Bureaus as a Youth Service Bureau Detective and also in the Intelligence/Special Services Division, Gang Intervention Unit, Neighborhood Response Team (NRT), Community Police Bureau, the Providence Police Training Academy, the Office of Professional Responsibility and the Narcotics and Organized Crime Bureau.

Deputy Chief Perez attended Roger Williams Middle School and graduated from Central High School in Providence. He attained a Bachelor’s Degree in Administration of Justice from Roger Williams University and a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Boston University.

Deputy Chief Perez has earned the respect of both the rank and file of the department and also the community. Perez has been the recipient of numerous awards and commendations throughout his distinguished career. Most notably, Commander Perez assisted the FBI in an undercover narcotics operation where US Currency was used to purchase 35 kilograms of cocaine, resulting in the seizure of the narcotics and apprehension of three individuals involved in distribution of drugs. He was also recognized for assisting the Johnston Police Department with the apprehension of a subject involved in shooting a member of their department. Throughout his career, Perez has received the Mayor’s Award, Chief’s Award, Outside Agency Award, Citizens Award, Unit Citations, the Fraternal Order of Police Award, FBI award and various other awards and citations of merit for exceptional devotion to duty.

Deputy Chief Perez is a 2015 graduate of Leadership Rhode Island Lambda II Class, a 2016 graduate of PERF’s Senior Management Institute for Police, a 2019 graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government and a Graduate of the 2022 FBI National Academy, Session 281. He has also served on the RI State Parole Board.

Additionally, Deputy Chief Perez currently serves on the RI Commission on Prejudice & Bias, Rhode Island Bureau of Justice Assistance, the RI College Inclusive Excellence Commission and on the board of the Nonviolence Institute (NVI).

Deputy Chief Perez has worked as an adjunct professor in the Administration of Justice Department at both Roger Williams University and Salve Regina University.

Deputy Chief Perez has been married to his beautiful wife and high school sweetheart, Trinidad, for 31 years. Together they have two children, Catalina Perez, a school teacher and graduate of the University of Tampa, and Oscar Perez, a Computer Software Engineer and graduate of Worcester Polytech Institute (WPI).

Deputy Chief Perez’s brother, Sergeant Andres Perez, is a 21-year veteran of the Providence Police Department and is brother in law, Erick Ramos, is a 4-year veteran of the PPD.

Deputy Chief Perez is the proud son of Oscar Perez, Sr. and his loving and proud mother, the late Eloisa Perez.

Deputy Chief of Police

Commander Kevin M. Lanni
(401) 243-6109