PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Mayor Brett Smiley said the city is still deciding whether or not to appeal a decision made by a three-member panel to reinstate a Providence police officer previously accused of assault.
The Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights (LEOBOR) panel found Sgt. Joseph Hanley guilty of three administrative charges and handed down a 45-day unpaid suspension, which began on Monday.
“We’re deeply disappointed and we’re worried that this will erode the trust that providence police have worked so hard to build up the community,” Smiley told reporters at an unrelated event on Tuesday. “We thought for sure that it was clear that this officer broke department policy, has no business supervising other officers, and is going to do harm to the department if he returns.”…