Providence Police Sergeant Cleared for Reinstatement

News Summary

Providence police sergeant Joseph Hanley has been reinstated after a five-year suspension related to an incident where he kicked and beat a handcuffed man. Following a series of legal battles and a no contest plea, a law enforcement panel voted in favor of his return, imposing a 45-day suspension without pay instead of termination. This controversial decision has raised concerns regarding police accountability, particularly as Hanley’s actions were criticized by various officials. He will need to complete training and qualify with firearms before fully returning to duty.

Providence – Providence police sergeant Joseph Hanley has been cleared to return to work after a five-year suspension without pay due to his involvement in an arrest incident that drew significant public outcry. In April 2020, Hanley was captured on video kicking and beating a handcuffed man named Rishod Gore, an event that led to his arrest and subsequent legal proceedings.

The legal saga began when a judge found Hanley guilty of assault; however, he successfully appealed the decision. In a later trial, the jury was unable to reach a consensus, leading to a deadlock. Ultimately, Hanley opted to plead no contest to a misdemeanor simple assault charge, marking a major turning point in the case.

A three-member law enforcement panel reviewed Hanley’s case and voted 2-1 in favor of reinstating him, though they imposed a 45-day suspension without pay rather than terminating his employment. This panel’s decision comes after a lengthy five-year suspension that began following the incident involving Gore.

Providence Police Chief Colonel Oscar Perez expressed his disagreement with the panel’s conclusion and had previously called for Hanley’s dismissal. Commander Timothy O’Hara, one of the dissenting panel members, highlighted concerns regarding Hanley’s behavior, labeling him as “prone to volatility, violence, and untruthfulness.” The panel found that Hanley had violated the city’s use of force policy multiple times during the encounter with Gore, including actions such as kicking him repeatedly, standing on his calves, and using foul language. Although the panel ruled that he did not kneel on Gore’s neck as alleged, they did agree with Hanley’s claim of kneeling on Gore’s trapezius muscle instead.

Notably, Hanley’s body-worn camera was not activated during the incident. However, other officers’ body cameras recorded the event. While Hanley was found guilty of failing to activate his body camera, the panel did not convict him of lying about it. As a result, he had not faced criminal charges in the administrative proceedings due to his no contest plea and the absence of conviction requirements for the panel’s membership.

The controversy surrounding Hanley’s return to the force has been persistent, as two mayors and two police chiefs have sought his termination since the incident. However, a state law necessitated a hearing by the three-member panel before any action could be taken against him. Over the five years, Hanley continued to receive medical and dental benefits without a salary.

Following his 45-day suspension, Hanley will be required to complete training on updated department policies and must qualify with firearms. His attorney remarked that the sanctioned decision aligns with disciplinary measures taken in similar cases previously. The ruling acknowledged that Hanley had maintained an “unblemished and exemplary record of service” prior to the events in question.

This decision to reinstate Hanley occurs amidst broader reform efforts regarding police misconduct laws in Rhode Island, especially after the murder of George Floyd that triggered widespread protests and calls for accountability. Critiques surrounding the original composition of the hearing panel have emerged, particularly with allegations that Hanley had influence over its makeup. A new law is set to change the structure of hearing panels, incorporating randomly selected officers and civilians to bolster accountability.

Concerns over the potential impact of Hanley’s reinstatement have surfaced, particularly from Commander O’Hara, who expressed fears that allowing Hanley back into the police force could pose liability risks to both the Providence Police Department and the community at large.

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Additional Resources

• WPRI: Panel clears Sgt. Hanley to return to Providence Police
• Providence Journal: Disciplinary panel clears Hanley
• GoLocalProv: Providence Police Double Embarrassment
• Boston Globe: RI Providence Police Officer returns to active duty
• Wikipedia: Police misconduct in the United States