City council backs off independent probe of school groping

By: The Associated Press

Email: news@abc6.com

Twitter: @ABC6

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) – The Providence City Council has backed off a proposal calling for an independent investigation into whether officials at an elementary school failed to properly report allegations that a gym teacher had groped female students.

The council approved a resolution on Monday calling on the police department to conduct a thorough and prompt investigation into how officials at Harry Kizirian Elementary School handled the allegations of sexual misconduct.

An earlier proposed resolution had called for an independent investigation separate from the ongoing police investigation.

James Duffy, a gym teacher at the school, is charged with five counts of second-degree child molestation. The alleged victims are fifth-graders.

He did not enter a plea at his arraignment in late June and has not responded to the charges.

© WLNE-TV / ABC6 2017