‘Not worthy of the title’: Providence appeals reinstatement of police sergeant accused of suspect assault

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Providence Mayor Brett Smiley and city officials have appealed a decision to reinstate a Providence police sergeant accused of beating a handcuffed man on the ground in April of 2020.

Smiley issued the following statement regarding the incident and the reinstatement of Sergeant Joseph Hanley:

Both myself and Colonel Perez are deeply disappointed in the LEOBOR panel’s decision. Sergeant Hanley’s conduct falls short of the high standards we expect from a Providence Police officer. The actions in question are not reflective of the professionalism and integrity that the department is meant to uphold and this decision could harm the trust in local law enforcement we have worked hard to build within our communities. That is why we have decided to appeal this decision. We need to hold officers accountable for actions that do not meet the high professional standards we hold them to.

The appeal document filed in Rhode Island Superior Court cites Providence’s claims of excessive force used by Hanley in the incident and unprofessional language allegedly directed by the sergeant toward the suspect.

The court document stated in part:

The City demands judgment in its favor vacating, reversing and/or setting aside the committee’s decision and/or its imposition of a 45-day unpaid suspension on, rather than the termination of, Sergeant Hanley. Quite simply, Sergeant Hanley’s shocking betrayal of the public trust revealed that he is not worthy of the title or fit for the position of “law enforcement officer.”

A three-member panel reinstated Hanley on June 27 after he had been suspended without pay for five years following the release of a video of Hanley kicking and beating Rishod Gore, who was handcuffed and lying on the sidewalk.

Hanley was given a 45-day unpaid suspension as part of the panel’s June decision, to be followed by his reinstatement to the Providence Police Department.

Hanley was arrested in May of 2020 on a simple assault charge.

He was found guilty of assault following the trial, but Hanley appealed the decision and the subsequent case resulted in a deadlocked jury.