Suspended police chief sentenced to jail - ABC6 - Providence, RI and New Bedford, MA News, Weather

Suspended police chief sentenced to jail

By Abbey Niezgoda

aniezgoda@abc6.com

Former North Providence Police Chief John Whiting was sentenced to 6 months in prison for stealing more than $700 from a stripper's SUV and then trying to hand it off to another officer.

"There's no question the crimes committed by this defendant are severe," Judge Daniel Procaccini said.

Whiting was convicted in July, but even that did not keep the defense from making one final argument to reduce the charges because of a recent change to Rhode Island law.

"Because in fact it was changed from a felony to a misdemeanor," Attorney John Harwood said.

However, the judge ruled it was too late.

Whiting was given one more chance to speak, but he passed it up. His daughter did not.

"My father John Whiting is the most honest and trustworthy man and police officer that I have ever met in my life," Kaisa Whiting said.

 Judge Procaccini said Whiting's silence was deafening, having never expressed remorse or accepted responsibility for his actions.

"It is my belief that he believes he did nothing wrong," Procaccini said.

Whiting was sentenced to 5 years in jail with 6 months to serve. He is free on bail pending an appeal. He remains on an unpaid suspension from the North Providence Police Department.