T.F. Green head of security resigns abruptly

by: Tim White

Posted: Jan 28, 2025 / 04:11 PM EST

WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) – R.I. Airport Corp. head of security Joseph Perkins abruptly resigned Tuesday after sending an alarming message to colleagues, accusing airport management of seeking “to eliminate the police department.”

Perkins outlined the allegations against airport management in a message he sent to members of the airport police department before handing in his resignation to State Police Col. Darnell Weaver, who oversees law enforcement at Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport.

“Unfortunately everything you suspect about RIAC management is true,” Perkins wrote in the message, claiming management wanted to get rid of the police department and “most of all the union.”

Airport spokesperson Bill Fischer denied the allegations, downplaying Perkins’ authority at the airport and noting he’d only joined in September. He also said the airport never received a letter of resignation from Perkins and that he’d never raised his concerns to airport leadership.

“There are no plans to eliminate the RIAC police department and the airport is properly staffed and able to fulfill its mission,” Fischer said. “We have had the same staffing levels over the last decade. The department has been and will continue to be led by senior vice president of operations, Duc Nguyen.”

Lt. Col. Robert Creamer said Perkins does not report to the Department of Public Safety and directed all questions to the airport corporation.

In an email to Target 12, Perkins confirmed his resignation and said he immediately notified the airport police department about his decision, “encouraging them to stay strong and committed to their duty of serving and protecting the airport and the citizens who utilize it.”

“To the astonishment of most people I speak with outside the airport, the leadership must be changed,” Perkins wrote. “I am sorry I was not able to make that change happen. I am sorry I was not able to become what I and most of you expected when I took this job.”

He advised the staff to “fight” and “do not let them win.”

Perkins confirmed the authenticity of the internal message via text message.

Perkins came to RIAC with 35 years of law enforcement experience, most recently serving 10 years as chief of the Middleboro Police Department in Massachusetts.

His departure comes at a time of internal turbulence at the quasi-government agency, which oversees Rhode Island airports. In October, RIAC President and CEO Iftikhar Ahmad announced he was launching an internal investigation after a series of anonymous emails and letters circulated criticizing his leadership.

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The administration has denied the allegations in the anonymous letters and has raised the possibility of filing a lawsuit against the author if they are revealed.

More than 160 employees at the airport — including its police officers — are currently negotiating a new contract with RIAC leadership. Council 94, the union that represents the workers, has repeatedly raised concerns about Ahmed’s leadership.

“We have been raising an alarm about RIAC’s ill treatment of both union and nonunion employees,” said Jim Cenerini of Council 94. “This is our minds shows a continued pattern of disregard for their employees.”

Despite the tensions, passenger numbers have grown at T.F. Green. A news release by the agency touted the airport as the “fastest-growing hub airport in New England.” The release said the airport saw 27% increase in passengers from 2023 to 2024, passing 4 million travelers.

Tim White (twhite@wpri.com) is Target 12 managing editor and chief investigative reporter and host of Newsmakers for 12 News. Connect with him on Twitter and Facebook.