North Providence police audit misses deadline

Of the 26,000 pieces of evidence in the room, Lombardi said 200 pieces still need to be logged.

June 12, 2015

NORTH PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The mayor's deadline for the completion of an audit of the evidence came and went.

And more than two weeks after that May 26 deadline passed - there's still "quite a bit of work to do," Mayor Charles Lombardi said in an interview.

"I might have blanked a little when I said 30 days," Lombardi said Friday. "I might have made a mistake."

An April, a Providence Journal investigation revealed it had been at least 20 years since an audit was completed. At least 100 items - including a gun, pills, and crack cocaine - were missing.

Lombardi said he went to the police station April 26 to let the rank and file know "enough is enough." He said the audit would be finished May 26 - "no matter what it takes."

Now, he says it could take a few more weeks.

Of the 26,000 pieces of evidence in the room, Lombardi said 200 pieces still need to be logged.

"It's a lot, a lot of work," the mayor said.

Acting Police Chief Christopher Pelagio has not returned several voice mail messages requesting a comment. Neither has Acting Deputy Chief Charles Davey who - at one point - was in charge of the audit.

Lt. John Anzivino, who is now completing the audit, also did not return calls requesting comment.