Providence police chief resigns after controversy

Public Safety Commissioner Steven Pare said Colonel Dean Esserman submitted his resignation yesterday, effective June 30.

Esserman acknowledged earlier this month that minors had consumed alcohol at his home — though without his permission — for a party celebrating his daughter’s high school graduation.

He said he broke up the party as soon as he learned of the drinking and woke Pare up in the middle of the night to tell him what had happened.

Pare launched a review of the incident.

It was not immediately clear what that review concluded and whether Esserman was asked to step down.

“In my capacity as public safety commissioner, I will fulfill all necessary duties to ensure stability within the Police Department during this time of transition,’’ Pare said in a statement.

“During this time, I will work in consultation with the mayor and city leadership to determine what process the city will undertake to select its next chief of police.’’

Mayor Angel Taveras thanked Esserman for his service and said the chief had rebuilt public trust in the police force and “significantly improved policing practice’’ in Providence.

Councilor John J. Igliozzi had called for an investigation into the incident by the Rhode Island attorney general to avoid any conflicts of interest.

Esserman, who maintained he had not broken any laws, initially said he did not plan to resign and stood by his decision not to call police officers to his home after he learned of the underage drinking.

Earlier this year, the police chief was suspended from his job for a day after a verbal altercation with one of his subordinates.