Police Chief Matt Moynihan presented his 2021 annual report to the Town Council, providing statistics and data that some of the community has been eagerly awaiting.Moynihan began by telling the council that his “critical tasks” for his first year were to assess the department, establish goals, identify challenges, and make improvements. In assessing the department, he said he focused on performance, personnel and staffing, facilities and equipment, and the public’s perception of the department.The goals established include to provide high-quality, highly visible public safety services, improve traffic safety, enforce moped ordinances, deter underage drinking, curb open container violations, and to better collaborate and communicate with the community.
The challenges identified by the chief include Block Island’s “anything goes” reputation, the low expectation of enforcement, chronic understaffing and low morale, poor communication, infrastructure and equipment needs, and off-season issues.
Moynihan told the council that “changing the narrative” about Block Island will improve things on the island from a public safety standpoint. He spoke of creating an “atmosphere where enforcement is expected,” which “deters bad behavior.” Moynihan explained that enforcement is a range of actions, including educational moments and warnings, as well as citations and arrests.
Moynihan presented the enforcement
