‘A cop’s cop’

Deputy Chief Parrillo accepts position in Cranston

By Tim Forsberg and Jacob Marrocco
Posted 7/20/17

After nearly 25 years of service with the Johnston Police Department, Deputy Chief Daniel O. Parrillo Jr. has found another career opportunity as Cranston’s full time personnel director. …

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‘A cop’s cop’

Deputy Chief Parrillo accepts position in Cranston

Posted

After nearly 25 years of service with the Johnston Police Department, Deputy Chief Daniel O. Parrillo Jr. has found another career opportunity as Cranston’s full time personnel director.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge,” said Parrillo. “I’ve been looking to move on, strictly in law enforcement, for the past year and a half, looking for chief’s jobs. I’ve applied for several jobs and just haven’t been selected. I came close, second and third, but just haven’t come out as number one.”

Cranston has not had a personnel director for more than five years, but that void was finally filled last Thursday night after the City Council held two special meetings-one of the finance committee and another for the full council-to confirm Parrillo to the position. He was confirmed unanimously by both bodies, and the process went rather quickly.

“Everybody says you’re a great guy and you’re more than qualified and judging by what you said tonight they were correct,” Citywide Councilman John Lanni Jr., said. “I wish you a lot of luck.”

Parrillo said that, as deputy chief, he acted as a “quasi-personnel director,” handling everything from training to hiring to termination hearings. While he has experience in the requirements for the job, he did say he won’t be able to do it alone.

“I’m going to be asking for a lot of help from people who work for the personnel department,” Parrillo said during the hearings. “It’s not a one-person job. It’s going to take a lot of unity, a lot of working together, meeting with department heads, finding out what their needs are, what they haven’t had in the last five years without a personnel director.”

In that respect, it’s not so different from his soon-to-be-old job.

“That’s the key in any operation, whether it’s policing or civilian life, you need to have all hands on deck,” Parrillo, who was joined by acting personnel director Rob Coupe at the meeting, added. “Not everyone’s going to get everything they want.”

A paramount concern of Cranston Ward 1 Councilman Steve Stycos has been diversity within the Cranston workforce. Stycos stated that “23 percent of Cranston’s population is black, Hispanic, Asian, Native American or mixed race,” citing the Census. However, just 2 percent of full-time city employees are minorities. Parrillo is on board with improving those numbers as well.

“I think the biggest thing, when it comes to diversity, is engagement, recruitment and getting the word out,” Parrillo said. “Getting into communities that are less represented. I think it’s important to hit those diverse cultures, let them know they can be a part of this administration in whatever capacity they see fit.”

Parrillo added that it is also “absolutely” important to reach out to veterans as well, calling them an “undersized class within the workforce.”

Mayor Allan Fung said Monday that it is “exciting” to have Parrillo on board. He hopes to see the personnel department take a more proactive role such as filling a position because of an impending retirement, now that there is a full-time director at the helm.

“The priorities that we see are necessary are to update our personnel handbook [and] the push on diversity is critically important, and getting his input and insights on reviving a lot of the things that we can do still to improve on the diversity and the recruitment process.”

During an interview the Sun Rise on Friday, Parrillo went into more detail about his job search. He discussed a chance encounter with Mayor Fung at one point that seemed to be a harbinger of things to come.

“Being in the Deputy Chief position for the last 4 1/2 years I’ve had the opportunity to really meet a lot of different people, engage with different people and network with a lot of different people,” Parrillo said. “So you build up a rapport and relationship, and I was talking to Mayor Fung one day and he asked me what the future held, and I told him I’m looking for an opportunity to see what’s out there. He asked me if I was strictly looking for a police chief’s job. He asked if I was open to any other opportunities and I told him I was and willing to listen.”

Fresh out of Salve Regina with his Master’s degree, Parrillo said he had “maxed out” in Johnston. He will have a couple weeks of vacation coming up that will be used as transition time, and he officially starts in Cranston on Aug. 21. It could take some adjustment at first, but he still expects to see some of the same issues he once saw in Johnston.

“Right now it’s a little confusing, but it will all come together,” he said of switching to a different title after 28 years in criminal justice. “Everything I do now is what’s needed in Cranston on a different scale. We have 65 policemen and 17 civilians here, so you’re talking about 82 people and they have 620 in Cranston. But it’s the same issues, it’s hiring, firing, disciplining, keeping track of payroll and people’s time, sexual harassment, Family Medical Leave Act, Fair Labor and Standards Act, conflict management, a lot of the same issues that we deal with here.”

While excited to see what lies ahead, Parrillo said his wife, Karen, and son, Mitchell, might be anxious with the change.

“My wife is a nervous wreck,” Parrillo said in jest.

“If you think it’s tough being a police officer, try being a police officer’s wife,” said Karen. “The reason I’m a mess is that you leave behind a family. Johnston has the best group of guys. We’re leaving behind a family that we’ve had for 25 years. When you’re a police officer it’s a very different life than everybody else’s, but this is a great opportunity for him for sure.”

Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena said Monday that while he knew losing Parrillo would be a blow to the town, he could not prevent him from seeking other opportunities and ultimately departing for Cranston.

“He’s a cop’s cop. He ran my EMA Department, and he did a great job. It’s a great loss for the town, but I wish him well in his new endeavor which will obviously be different than police work but he’s up to the task to handle almost anything,” said Polisena. “Our loss is no doubt Cranston’s gain.”

Johnston Chief Richard Tamburini agreed.

“I had the good fortune to work together with Dan and I saw first hand the remarkable talents of this energetic, committed police officer. He was always the go to guy for help, advice, information, and always gave it to me straight, and that’s important in this business,” said Tamburini. “He’s a man that believes in the simple proposition ‘Obey the rules.’ Dan is a man of faith who loves his family, and when you’ve got those two things going for you, everything else is easy.”

Aug. 20 will be Parrillo’s last day with the department. According to Chief Tamburini, the Deputy Chief position will be filled internally.

“Major Joseph Razza will be the new Deputy Chief of Police, to be appointed at a later date,” said Tamburini.

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  • bciman

    Danny congrats on your new position in the City of Cranston I know you will do a great job just like you did as Deputy Chief at Johnston PD, it was a pleasure and honor to work with you. Joe, or should I say Deputy Chief Razza congrats to you as well on your new position, just like Danny I know you will do a great job as Deputy Chief, and it was also a pleasure and honor to work with you as well. Don't forget I will be glad to work some overtime shifts when I am up North visiting from Punta Gorda Florida.

    Good luck to both of you, your Friend

    Peter

    Sunday, August 20, 2017 Report this