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You heard it here first - that every phone call made to or from the the Providence Police Department was being recorded!
Eyewitness News investigative reporter Jack White worked the story for days. And his inquiries into the department forced city officials to go public with the information today.
That news conference was scheduled late this afternoon, after a series of phone calls from Eyewitness News.
The focus is the computer room in the second floor of this building.
The controversy hit anyone who used any phones there- from police to civilians.
Former Providence Police Chief Urbano Prignao reacted to the news today, saying, �I am absolutely outraged. I had nothing to do with this. I left the department two years ago. A lot can happen in two years. We didn't order any commnunications device.�
But despite what the chief says, the Mayor sees things differently. The new administration pointed squarely at the old administration- saying former Police Chief Urbano Prignano ordered this computer telephone recording system when the building was in the planning stages.
It was set up to record every conversation in and out of the public safety complex. Judges, firefighters, police officers and others, also victimized. The union says there were suspicions.
Now there will be a forensic audit that will try to answer several questions including what was recorded, who had access to the tapes, and what if anything were they used for.
The mayor says even if they were never used it's a crime.
Former Providence Police Chief Urbano Prignano made another statement tonight. He said, �Before he even has a thorough investigation, he throws my name out there. They twist the facts. He has a vendetta against me.�