Here's what was said during the RI State Police Col. Weaver confirmation hearing

State Sen. Ana B. Quezada felt enormous pride early Thursday evening as she looked down from her perch on the Senate Judiciary Committee and eyed the commanding officer of the Rhode Island State Police.

Col. Darnell Weaver was sitting before the committee for a hearing on his confirmation as director of the Rhode Island Department of Public Safety.

Earlier this spring, Weaver took command of the state police. He's also been nominated to direct the department, which has 554 full-time employees and an annual budget of $168 million.

"I am so proud to be sitting here in front of you and seeing a person of color taking on the role," Quezada told him.

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Quezada's support came just before the panel's unanimous vote early Thursday evening to recommend Weaver's appointment to the full Senate.

It followed testimony from Weaver himself, from two stalwart supporters who also led the state police, and from two community leaders familiar with his law enforcement work and leadership qualities.

Channavy Chhay, executive director of the Center for Southeast Asians, told the committee that Weaver's appointment is a historic marker of progress for the state.

"This took hundreds of years for us to get here," Chhay said.

"It's a history," Chhay said, "that we're writing together tonight."

She said, "We are showing ... that we can make a change and mend the past of our history so that our children can look at one another and gazing in those eyes say that 'We are equal.'"

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The chairman of the board of Providence's Wiggin Village, Wayne Montague, told the committee that he worked closely with Weaver on numerous community projects in the urban core of Providence.

Montague said he had appealed to Weaver for help "countless times" and that Weaver had "partnered" with him on cleanups, food drives for residents, educational opportunities, economic opportunities and other "invaluable support" to the village, which houses 1,000 people in the West End of Providence.

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"Colonel Weaver is a true professional who understands that everyone brings something special to the table," Montague said. "That means everyone. It doesn't matter who you are."

Weaver's former boss, retired Col. James Manni, focused his comments on the Marine's proficiency, professionalism and qualifications for the job, telling the committee that if he had to choose just one word to sum up Weaver, that word would be "solid."

Manni was involved with Weaver's earliest training as a trooper in 1994 and worked with him throughout Weaver's career. At one point, Manni and Weaver were a duo riding in the same cruiser.

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"He's going to be a great  [Department of Public Safety] director," Manni said. "He's fair, he's compassionate, he's a good family man, he loves the state, loves his country and he's going to be very transparent in everything he does. You'll know exactly what he does."

Before the hearing, out in the hallway, Manni reflected on the challenges he faced leading the state police in 2020 during a pandemic and also during a period of social unrest.

In front of the committee, he testified that Weaver served flawlessly as a lieutenant colonel in 2020 with oversight of troopers on patrol, detectives and other operations.

"There was not one instance, not one, where I had a question about anything," Manni said.

Kevin Barry, a retired state police lieutenant colonel, told the panel that Weaver is "a perfect blend of the old school and the new school."

Weaver brings an unwavering commitment to high professional standards as well as deep engagement with the community, Barry said.

Weaver grew up in Cranston and joined the U.S. Marine Corps, where he specialized in Air Defense, embraced military culture and felt a calling to law enforcement.

He served in every barracks and later was commandant of the Rhode Island State Police Training Academy. Under Manni, he initially rose to the rank of major and commanded the 175 troopers, including all troopers in uniform.

"I have played a key role in managing these agencies and I have deep understanding of their operations," he told the committee. "I am also very aware of the important role they play in our state's effort to protect and serve the public.

"If confirmed in this role I commit to you that I will lead the department under the principles I have noted," he said.

Such principles include professionalism, transparency, fairness and integrity, he added.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RI State Police Col. Darnell Weaver Senate confirmation hearing