What’s New with Public Safety? A Conversation with Chief Chad Carnegie

by Shannon Kelly ’26 on February 12, 2026

News

On Friday, Feb. 6, I interviewed chief of public safety Chad Carnegie. We discussed the new renovations to the Public Safety office and initiatives that are being worked on, and I got a tour of the new building, which is now located on the St. Joseph’s side of Raymond Hall. The Chief explained that their facility includes a roll call room, emergency operations center, kitchen, and separate men’s and women’s locker rooms. Chief Carnegie previously worked at Georgetown University for 11 years at the college police department. He came to Providence College in 2022 and, “likes a challenge to not be stagnant.” We discussed his upbringing and the Chief told me that he was raised in Florida, where he also worked as a police officer.

We discussed the difference in pace in comparison to being a police officer and working on a college campus. Chief Carnegie explained that the college campus atmosphere is slower compared to being a police officer. When asked about community initiatives, Chief Carnegie explained that the Office of Public Safety prioritizes caring for the students. He said that the office seeks to show that they do not just care about students when they’re at their worst, but wants to be a supporting presence in their everyday lives too. He said that recently, Public Safety handed out 150 pizzas to students on and off campus to foster connections. In November, Public Safety hosted an event with donuts and coffee in hopes to engage in conversation with students, as well as faculty.

Afterwards, I asked Chief Carnegie about any changes in Public Safety that he has noticed during his time here. He said that he has amazing officers and a deep appreciation for the department as a whole. He emphasized that he is “striving to make it the best it can be” and that working towards greatness has become the culture at Public Safety during his time here. He explained that he was proud of the work that is being done and that it is not just him, it’s everybody else in the department. Chief Carnegie also divulged that he just presented on emergency management to Student Congress, the Board of Trustees, and parents on the leadership board.

The tragic Brown University shooting was also mentioned during our conversation, and Chief Carnegie told me that as many students have now noticed, the doors to main buildings are now closed on the weekends. He said that there is a lot going on behind the scenes right now following the shooting at Brown to ensure that our campus is prepared and can respond effectively to an emergency. He told me that the 900+ cameras on campus are being audited, the gate entrances are being looked at, and policies regarding locking doors in classrooms are also a topic of discussion.

The last question I asked Chief Carnegie had to do with any advice pertaining to safety that he might offer to Providence College community members. The Chief told me that situational awareness is key and we must be thinking about what is going on around us. He emphasized that Public Safety is here 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and that they are a resource for all. Chief Carnegie ended with expressing his gratitude to Father Sicard, O.P. ’78, ’82G, Dean of Students Steven Sears, and John Sweeney for their efforts in support of the new Public Safety building. He encouraged people to reach out, have fun, enjoy their time here, and always remember that “we’re all Friars.”

The City of Providence and its Resilience Following the Brown University Shooting

by Sarah McCall ’26 on January 22, 2026

News

On Saturday, Dec. 13, the city of Providence faced a tragedy when Claudio Manuel Neves Valente opened fire on a Brown University final review session, killing two students and injuring nine. Ella Cook, a sophomore, and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, a freshman, were the two victims who lost their lives that day. Neves Valente was identified after a five-day manhunt, which resulted in the discovery of his body in a New Hampshire storage facility. Additionally, he was connected to the murder of an MIT professor, Nuno Loureiro, which was committed just two days after the shooting at Brown. Neves Valente was a former graduate student at Brown, originally enrolled in the fall of 2000. During this five-day stretch, fear coursed through members of the Providence community. Brown students remained in lockdown late into the night as the search continued to find the unidentified shooter.

This fear was not limited to the Brown campus. In an age of mass gun violence, students nationally are familiar with the dangers of a school shooting. The Providence Public School District reported a 20 percent absence rate on Monday, Dec. 15, even with assurance from officials that there was no active threat against Providence Public Schools. Additionally, students at Providence College remained sheltered in their dorms and off-campus houses waiting for potential news updates with no official shelter in place order administered.

Around the state of Rhode Island, colleges and universities altered their final exam schedules due to continued fear and uncertainty. The University of Rhode Island, Bryant University, and Providence College canceled all in-person exams due to safety concerns. Each university provided other options for final grades, such as the option for an online exam, a postponed exam date, or an alternative assignment.

As the news continued to unfold, the Providence College campus experienced extensive changes. The normally bustling campus filled with students studying for finals became filled with cars moving students out quicker than anticipated. The security at the gates was increased, with increased surveillance on who was entering campus and for what reason. As the week continued and students left, different parts of campus began to close sooner than expected. Ruane Cafe, Eaton Street Cafe, Diane Parrett R.N. Cafe, Alumni Dining, and the Concannon Fitness Center either limited their hours or closed for the remainder of the semester. Saint Dominic Chapel also limited its services and confession times for the remainder of the semester.

Following this tragic event, the resilience of the Providence community was made clear. Two Brown University sophomores were shopping at Trader Joe’s when they received news of the shooting. The Trader Joe’s employees cooked the students dinner, paid for their hotel, and drove them to the hotel as the Brown campus remained closed. Additionally, RIPTA drivers spent the night of Dec. 13 shuttling students to safety. One RIPTA driver, David St. Germain, recounted driving hundreds of kids until 3 a.m. the following morning. He, along with eight other drivers, jumped right to action. St. Germain said that he was “just there to help” and “would have stayed later if they’d needed me.” The bravery of St. Germain, the first responders, and all of the Providence citizens who came together to support each other is remarkable and a reflection of the spirit of the city. Although nothing can fully repair the damage caused, the Providence community came out of this tragedy stronger than ever, reflecting the Rhode Island state flag, which proudly displays the word “hope” as the state’s motto.