Off-duty Pawtucket officer found not guilty in 2021 shooting

WARWICK, R.I. (WLNE) — The Pawtucket police officer who was on trial for shooting a teenager nearly two years ago was found not guilty Thursday.

Officer Daniel Dolan, 38, was arrested in June 2021 after police said he shot at a car with three teenagers inside, injuring one of them.

According to court documents, Dolan, who was off-duty at the time of the incident, followed 18-year-old Vincent Greco into a West Greenwich parking lot, claiming it was because the teen was speeding.

Surveillance footage showed that the teenager’s car pulled into the parking lot of Wicked Good Pizza on Nooseneck Hill Road before Dolan’s car pulls up beside it.

The off-duty officer was then seen getting out of his truck and approaching the Greco’s car, which backs out of the lot and off camera.

Police said Dolan proceeded to open fire.

In court Thursday, Dolan’s charges of three felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon and discharge of a firearm were all dropped.

“The Attorney General respects our criminal justice system and accepts the jury’s verdict. He understands the family’s deep disappointment, which he shares,” said Rhode Island District Attorney Peter Neronha’s office. “He stands with them on this difficult day. The Attorney General thanks the participating witnesses who testified at trial.

Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves explained that city officials have to follow the Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights.

“Throughout this criminal investigation, the police department has been conducting an internal parallel investigation,” said Goncalves. “The Pawtucket Police Department will continue the internal investigation and consult with the city’s outside legal counsel to pursue employment discipline for violations of policies, rules, and regulations of the Police Department in accordance with LEOBOR.”