Title: Lead Investigator
Company: Providence External Review Authority (PERA)
Location: Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States
John P. A’Vant, Lead Investigator at the Providence External Review Authority (PERA), has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements, and leadership in Public Administration and Community Service.
Mr. A’Vant currently serves as the lead investigator for the Providence External Review Authority (PERA) in Providence, Rhode Island, a position he has held since 2024. In this capacity, he is responsible for receiving public complaints, forwarding them to internal affairs for investigation, reviewing completed cases, conducting independent investigations, and ensuring thoroughness and accuracy before making recommendations. Mr. A’Vant’s role includes recommending disciplinary actions and suspensions to maintain accountability within the department. Notably, the authority operates as an external review board, separate from the police department, and was established to address community concerns about accessibility when filing grievances against law enforcement, particularly during periods of heightened scrutiny, such as the aftermath of the George Floyd case.
Since 2017, Mr. A’Vant has also contributed as a tester for SouthCoast Fair Housing (SCFH), supporting efforts toward equitable housing practices. Located in New Bedford, Massachusetts, the SCFH is recognized as a nonprofit fair housing organization dedicated to facilitating housing availability, ensuring affordable housing opportunities, and developing stable communities throughout Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts.
Before his current appointment, Mr. A’Vant contributed to education as a full-time and part-time substitute teacher at Cranston High School East from 2023 to 2024. He also taught criminal justice part-time at Cranston High School East between 2021 and 2023 after obtaining his teacher’s certification. Additionally, Mr. A’Vant served as a part-time adjunct professor at Rhode Island College from 2020 to 2021, sharing his extensive field experience with students pursuing careers in criminal justice.
From 2019 to 2020, Mr. A’Vant worked as a special federal background investigator for Perspecta, LLC. In this role, he conducted top security clearance investigations for private corporations, such as Raytheon and the Newport-area U.S. Naval base.
Mr. A’Vant’s distinguished law enforcement career began in 1990 when he joined the Rhode Island State Police as a road trooper. He served in this capacity until 1997, then transitioned to detective roles within the agency. From 1997 to 2001, he was assigned to the ACI Detective Unit, followed by a year in the Major Crimes Detective Bureau between 2001 and 2002. Mr. A’Vant then served as a detective corporal with the Violent Fugitive Task Force from 2002 to 2003 before being promoted to sergeant with the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Task Force, where he remained until 2009.
From 2009 until his retirement in 2015, Mr. A’Vant held the rank of detective lieutenant with the Office of Criminal Investigations Task Force at the Food and Drug Administration in Rhode Island. Over his career, he spent more than 15 years as a detective and served on federal task forces with several agencies, including the FBI and the Food and Drug Administration, gaining extensive experience in federal investigations.
Mr. A’Vant’s academic credentials are extensive. He initially acquired a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Rhode Island in Kingston in 1986. Subsequently, he earned an associate degree in criminal justice and a bachelor’s degree from Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island, in 1995 and 1996, respectively, followed by a master’s degree in administration of justice with concentrations in homeland security, cybersecurity and intelligence from Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island, in 2016. In addition to his formal education, Mr. A’Vant acquired several credentials that have enhanced his professional capabilities, including certified youth mentoring training through MENTOR Rhode Island, with a teacher’s certification through Roger Williams University’s Career Technical Program in 2022, and with certification as a level III instructor through the National De-escalation Training Center at the University of New Haven in 2023.
Among his professional affiliations, Mr. A’Vant has been a founding member and first president of the Rhode Island Guardians Association since 2017. As president, he advocates for officers of color while organizing conferences, such as “Justice Reform-Building Trust and Legitimacy after George Floyd” and “The Guardian Mindset-Changing the Culture of Policing,” both hosted at Rhode Island College. Mr. A’Vant has also held membership on the Rhode Island Commission on Prejudice and Bias for over a decade. Moreover, Mr. A’Vant is affiliated with the Cape Verdean Progressive Center in East Providence, Rhode Island. Among his previous leadership positions, he was elected as a national delegate for Massachusetts and Rhode Island by the National Association of Black Law Enforcement Officers Inc. for 2024 to 2025. He also coordinated several weekly webinar training sessions on fair policing practices with the Windsor Police Department through NABLEO in 2020.
Beyond his professional roles, Mr. A’Vant is deeply involved with civic organizations and community initiatives. Since 2021, he has volunteered as the head coach for Special Olympics Rhode Island’s powerlifting program after earning Class A certification.
Among Mr. A’Vant’s most notable achievements during his years in government was his involvement in a high-profile case against Google Inc., which resulted in a $500 million federal settlement. This case led to approximately $45 million in funding being distributed among local police departments and the state police for equipment upgrades and facility renovations.
Highlighting his success, Mr. A’Vant has shared insights into organizational work through media appearances, including a 30-minute interview on a local talk show distributed on YouTube. His achievements have been formally recognized through numerous accolades, including a National OCDETF Award for “Operation Big League,” a Title III Investigation, a Division Award for Google Inc., Office of Criminal Investigations, and recognition as a Champion Gold Medalist for bench press at the World Police and Fire Games.
Mr. A’Vant attributes his accomplishments to growing up within a supportive family environment where his parents instilled a strong work ethic rooted in their devout Catholic faith. Raised in a working-class household that valued education and community service, he began working part-time jobs at age 13 while balancing academic pursuits and athletics. Mr. A’Vant’s perseverance was further shaped by experiences as an all-state wrestler during high school, a pursuit that required overcoming financial obstacles and adversity related to racism.
Reflecting on his career, Mr. A’Vant’s entry into law enforcement was influenced by encouragement from family members who recognized opportunities for qualified minorities within state police ranks. Despite facing significant competition during recruitment, he relied on determination fostered by his upbringing. Looking ahead, Mr. A’Vant remains dedicated to his role with PERA, while advancing advocacy efforts through the Rhode Island Guardians Association by supporting officers of color, given their challenging history within law enforcement institutions.
For more information, please visit:
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