Ethics complaint filed against Cranston mayor for hire of son-in-law

CRANSTON, R.I. (WLNE) — An official ethics complaint has been filed against Mayor Ken Hopkins.

The complaint surrounds the hiring and promotion of his son-in-law Jacob Shackleford, who serves on the fire department, and was filed by  John Psilopoulos.

Psilopoulos served as a deputy of former Mayor Allan Fung, filed the ethics complaint last Thursday.

In a statement, Hopkins said:

Today’s action by the Rhode Island Ethics Commission was not unexpected. Complaints, regardless of their motive or the substance of their allegations do not need to meet a high threshold for some level of evaluation by the staff and Ethics Commission. My legal counsel has made a preliminary response to the specific allegations filed by Mr. Psilopolous, a registered Democrat and known supporter of my political opponent. I reiterate again that as it relates to my son-in-law, I had no direct role in his hiring or promotion within the Cranston Fire Department. The facts will bear that out as this matter proceeds. Out of respect to the process and the Rhode Island Ethics Commission I will reserve any further comment at this time.

In a response to the complainant, the Law Offices of Thomas Dickinson said:

“All applicants undergo various levels of testing and examination including a requirement that they submit evidence of a successful completion of a state administered agility test, a written examination administered by a third-party testing service, a locally run physical and agility test, and oral examinations and personal interviews. All prospective hires are then rank-ordered based on their scoring. Before being hired as a firefighter, the person must possess their Basic EMT license in order to be eligible for appointment off the list established by the Fire Chief and his administrative team. Promotions within the department are strictly based on eligibility and governed by the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the City of Cranston and Local 1363, International Association of Firefighters, AFL-CIO.”

Hopkins’ running mate Barba Ann-Fenton, and wife of former Mayor Allan Fung, said that despite the ongoing investigation, Hopkins’ team published an invitation to a fundraiser with the city seal, which blurs the ethical lines of official government rules and political fundraising.