By Steve Klamkin WPRO News

Undercover police officers conducted drug “buys” over a three-month period in downtown Providence, in what officials called “Operation Kennedy Plaza Sweep”.

The effort resulted in 19 arrests, warrants were issued for an additional six suspects, said Mayor Brett Smiley on Thursday.

“We want to send a loud and clear message that illicit drug dealing is not acceptable anywhere in our city, and particularly in Kennedy Plaza,” Smiley said at a news conference at the Providence public safety complex.

“These drug dealers are taking advantage of those who are struggling with substance use issues, and that behavior is not tolerated in Providence,” said police chief Oscar Perez. He said the dealers were caught selling cocaine and cocaine base.

Mayor Smiley said the sweep extended beyond Kennedy Plaza, the downtown bus hub, to nearby Burnside Park and the Waterplace basin.

Smiley said the city is making strides in providing treatment and other services to those who frequent the Kennedy Plaza area. and said that the so-called “yellow jackets”, who clean the downtown area under the banner of the “Downtown Improvement District” and others act as the “eyes and ears” for the police, and called on others who frequent the area to note and report drug-dealing activities to the police.