The Latest: Amid shouts, city delays anti-profiling measure

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Latest on a proposed police anti-profiling ordinance in Providence, Rhode Island (all times local):

6:30 p.m.

Leaders of Rhode Island’s largest city have tabled a sweeping new proposal to ban discriminatory profiling by police, prompting loud protests from the measure’s supporters.

The Providence City Council was expected to pass the proposed anti-profiling ordinance Thursday, but instead voted 9-5 to delay it until June 1.

Shouting inside the city hall chambers drowned out council members, while police officers high-fived each other in the hallway.

The delay came a day after the city’s police union sent a scathing letter describing the measure as a “slap in the face” to officers in the 400-member force.

The measure would also limit the use of electronic surveillance and a gang database, and establish strict controls on police.

The council already had approved it on a 12-0 vote last week, but it required a second vote.

1:20 p.m.

The police union in Rhode Island’s largest city is asking political leaders to reject a sweeping new ordinance that would ban discriminatory profiling by police, limit use of a gang database and establish other strict controls.

The Providence City Council already voted 12-0 in favour of the ordinance last week, but its passage requires a second vote scheduled for Thursday.

Democratic City Council President Luis Aponte said Thursday that concerns outlined in a letter from the police union are based on factual errors.

The state’s attorney general has also expressed concerns about the ordinance hampering police officers, but it’s not clear if Democrat Peter Kilmartin plans to give a formal opinion before Thursday’s vote. His spokeswoman, Amy Kempe, says the attorney general’s office had taken no action as of Wednesday.