Latest news with #LEOBOR
Boston Globe
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Providence asks judge to block police sergeant who beat handcuffed man from returning to active duty
The Get Rhode Island News Alerts Sign up to get breaking news and interesting stories from Rhode Island in your inbox each weekday. Enter Email Sign Up 'Quite simply, Sergeant Hanley's shocking betrayal of the public trust revealed that he is not worthy of the title or fit for the position of 'law enforcement officer,'' the Advertisement April 2020 body camera video, Sgt. Joseph Hanley is seen kicking and verbally berating Rishod Gore, a man whom he was arresting on Tell Street in Providence. Hanley's case was one of several that prompted state lawmakers to Advertisement The changes, which took effect Jan. 1, included a new makeup of the panel, no longer allowing the accused officer to choose any of the panelists. But Hanley's case was heard under the old system. The panel that reinstated Hanley included retired Providence Sergeant Robert Boehm, Hanley's pick; Providence Commander Timothy O'Hara, the city's pick; and Cranston Major Todd Patalano, the neutral pick. Patalano, who was the chair, and Boehm voted to reinstate Hanley to the police force after a 45-day suspension, while O'Hara wanted to fire him. 'We think the LEOBOR panel got it wrong, we don't think Sergeant Hanley should be returned to the job, and we're going to vigorously pursue our appeal,' Smiley told the Globe on Wednesday. The four-page appeal does not get into the specifics of the city's arguments. But Ragosta has said he plans to argue that certain evidence should not have been included in the administrative LEOBOR hearing, including testimony from Hanley that he had been offered a 45-day suspension from then-Commander Tom Verdi in 2020, before the city formally sought to fire him. Hanley's lawyer said the political environment surrounding the murder of George Floyd by police in Minnesota, which happened days after Hanley was arrested for assault, prompted city leaders to seek Hanley's termination. Verdi declined to comment on whether he had offered a suspension. He did not testify before the LEOBOR panel. 'We believe that there were a couple pieces of testimony or evidence taken into consideration in the LEOBOR hearing that should have been inadmissible or irrelevant, and we think that might have tainted the outcome of the panel,' Smiley said. Advertisement Asked if he was willing to negotiate an exit deal with Hanley, Smiley said there were not any negotiations currently underway. He noted that judges often instruct parties to try and come to an agreement. 'That's always an option, if the judge were to make us to do it.' Other cities have paid embattled officers to leave their police departments. The city of Pawtucket Dolan, who had admitted to shooting the teen but said it was in self-defense, was Dolan had the same lawyer as Hanley, Michael Colucci. Colucci praised the LEOBOR panel that A judge convicted Hanley of assault in 2021, but a City leaders say they are under no obligation to provide back pay to Hanley, which would total about $465,000 over the five years he's been suspended. Colucci has said he disagrees with that assessment, but he has not yet filed a court challenge seeking the back pay. Advertisement State Representative Related : 'I'm grateful to Mayor Smiley for appealing a decision which was the failed last gasp of the LEOBOR process, where the one person on the panel who had to deal with the consequences of the ruling was outnumbered by two people who don't have to serve with the violent officer they put back on the street,' Hull said in a statement. 'Let's try to get this right.' Steph Machado can be reached at
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Yahoo
Attorney: Westerly officer ‘in disbelief' over push to fire him
WESTERLY, R.I. (WPRI) — A lawyer has released a statement on behalf of a Westerly police officer facing firing, days after a grand jury declined to indict him over allegations of excessive force. Patrolman Timothy Cieciorka is accused of using excessive force while on duty in early March. However, after reviewing evidence including bodycam footage, a grand jury chose not to file criminal charges against him for the incident. According to Westerly Police Chief Paul Gingerella, the town is still seeking to fire Cieciorka over several alleged policy violations. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Westerly seeks to fire police officer amid use-of-force probe Cieciorka's attorney, Daniel Griffin, said in a statement Tuesday that the nine-year veteran of the force — and U.S. Armed Forces veteran — remains 'in disbelief' that he's facing any disciplinary action. 'Despite its best efforts, the Attorney General's Office failed to indict Officer Cieciorka,' Griffin wrote. 'What the chief omitted from his statement was that Officer Cieciorka himself went in front of that grand jury and subjected himself to unlimited and unchecked examination from prosecutors.' Griffin said the grand jury exonerated Cieciorka after brief deliberations, finding no violations had occurred. 'This is because it was evident to the grand jury — and any other unbiased person — that Officer Cieciorka conducted himself professionally and well within departmental policy while he assisted in bringing a highly dangerous criminal to justice,' he continued. Griffin added that while Cieciorka is 'saddened and frustrated' by the town's continued efforts to take his badge, 'he respects both the department and his chief and is looking forward to the day when he once again can serve and protect the citizens of Westerly.' Cieciorka's termination appeal is currently moving through the Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights (LEOBOR) process. Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Yahoo
Westerly seeks to fire police officer amid use-of-force probe
WESTERLY, R.I. (WPRI) — A Westerly police officer accused of using excessive force on the job will not face criminal charges, but the town is still looking to fire him. After reviewing the evidence, which includes body-worn camera video, a grand jury chose not to indict Patrolman Timothy Cieciorka, according to Westerly Police Chief Paul Gingerella. The incident happened in early March. Gingerella told 12 News the town is still seeking to terminate Cieciorka over several alleged policy violations. Cieciorka, a nine-year veteran of the force, has appealed the firing, which will now go through the Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights (LEOBOR) process. 12 News has reached out to the police union for comment. Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Yahoo
Embattled Providence officer seeks reinstatement after use of force case
CRANSTON, R.I. (WPRI) — An embattled Providence police officer accused of assaulting a suspect nearly five years ago appeared Thursday at a hearing to determine whether he can get his job back. Sgt. Joseph Hanley was captured on police body-worn camera video in April 2020 hitting a suspect in handcuffs. After getting charged for the incident, Hanley spent the past four years tied up in court. He pleaded no contest in December to a misdemeanor assault and battery charge in exchange for one year of probation. Now, Hanley's future employment will be determined by a three-member panel of current or former police officers at a closed-door hearing under the state's Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights, or LEOBOR. Lawmakers reformed LEOBOR last year to change how the process plays out, including changing the makeup of the panel that hears cases. But Hanley's case will be considered under the previous version of the law since the department sought to terminate him before the new law came into effect. If Hanley prevails, he could return to the job he's been suspended from without pay since late 2020. Hanley reached 20 years on the force last November, meaning he is also eligible for his pension. Vincent Ragosta, the attorney prosecuting the administrative hearing on behalf of the Providence Police Department, told Target 12 that Hanley is facing 10 administrative charges. 'That use of force and misconduct by him, which he pled to, is a crime unequivocally, without any condition, never contested it when he entered his plea… all of that is the subject matter of the disciplinary case,' Ragosta said. 'A case of criminal assault by a police officer in uniform, widely publicized since April of 2020… that is tarnishing.' Providence Police Col. Oscar Perez was the only witness called on Thursday. He told Target 12 law enforcement is 'held at a higher standard,' and that he was still seeking to terminate Hanley. 'You compromise the ability to serve in an urban and diverse city, in a professional manner,' Perez said. Hanley and his attorney had no comment leaving Thursday's hearing. The hearing is set to resume next week. Alexandra Leslie (aleslie@ is a Target 12 investigative reporter covering Providence and more for 12 News. Connect with her on Twitter and on Facebook. Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
