SPECIAL

East Providence police inspector to make 'Live PD' appearance

Jack Perry
jperry@providencejournal.com

PROVIDENCE -- Television viewers who enjoyed watching the East Providence police on "Live PD" are getting some good news -- if not all the good news they were hoping for.

The East Providence Police Department, which announced last month that it would stop appearing on the show, will be involved in the next two episodes. East Providence Inspector Craig Sroka will appear in studio when the show is broadcast Friday and Saturday nights, the East Providence Police Department said in a Facebook post.

Along with clips of the police in action, the show features in-studio guests with law-enforcement expertise. "He'll be commenting along with Dan Abrams, the host," said Police Maj. Christopher Francesconi.

In addition to the in-studio appearance, Sroka and East Providence Police Chief William Nebus will appear on a Facebook Live presentation by the show before Friday's show, "Live PD" announced.

"What do you want to ask them," the program asked in a post.

East Providence had been featured on the A&E program for seven months, but the department announced last month that it was "taking a break" from the show. Francesconi said in an interview that “Live PD” has been a positive experience for the department, but he also noted that it was a big commitment since “Live PD” crews accompanied the officers not just on Friday and Saturday, when the show airs, but from Tuesday through Saturday.

In November, an East Providence woman filed a complaint with the city seeking $1 million in damages because, she said, the reality TV show filmed her at home wearing only a towel. Desiree Spitaleri said in the complaint she was in the shower when two East Providence patrolmen rang her doorbell.

Judging from Facebook comments, a lot of viewers enjoyed seeing the East Providence police on the show. Several were happy to learn that Sroka will be in studio this weekend.

"So happy to hear this! Sure do miss East Providence PD and Inspector Sroka," Loree Thompson wrote on Facebook.

Darleen Morris wrote, "Will the East Providence Police Dept return to Live PD in the future?"

"Bring East Providence back!!!," Leishla Marrero wrote.

No decision has been made on whether East Providence will make a regular return to the show, according to Francesconi.

The show airs at 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.