Who's Investigating Providence Police Beating Caught on Tape?

Who's Investigating Providence Police Beating Caught on Tape?

The recent video of a Providence police officer seen punching a woman is under investigation by the Providence police -- but now that police officers involved in a Worcester, Massachusetts incident were arrested after being caught on tape beating a suspect, are other law enforcement entities in Rhode Island looking into the Providence incident?

"We don't comment on ongoing investigations, you'll have to check with the Providence Police," said Amy Kempe in the Rhode Island Attorney General's office.   

Providence Police Chief Hugh Clements, who called the use of force "justified" and said that the police department was determining whether it was excessive, did not return a call for comment on Friday.

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Jim Martin in the U.S. Attorney's Office had "no comment."

"Clearly there is some level of inappropriate conduct by the officer. Whether or not it's criminal I'm not sure you can get to that," said Providence City Council President Luis Aponte. "I'm going to have to ask that question as to why the use of force was justified -- where in their training manual, when they train them, does it allow for someone to be pulled by their hair?" 

About the Incidents

GoLocalProv.com was first to report the video in Providence, which captured an incident which took place in May showing a police officer punching an uncooperative female suspect at least four times, at no time attempting to handcuff her. 

Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo called the video "deeply disturbing" in an interview with GoLocal. "We have to get to the bottom of this, I trust [the Providence Police] will do a thorough investigation." GoLocal then reported on the discrepancies between the police report, and what was recorded in the video. 

On Tuesday, it was announced that a Massachusetts and New Hampshire state police trooper will face criminal charges for beating a Worcester man back in May. The video was taken by a TV news helicopter.

The charges were announced by New Hampshire Attorney General Joseph A. Foster. Massachusetts State Trooper Joseph Flynn, 32, and New Hampshire State Trooper Andrew Monaco, 31, were arrested on multiple charges of simple assault, according the the New Hampshire Attorney General.

Police External Review Needed?

Providence City Council President spoke to the call by some in the community to re-instate the Providence External Review Authority, which had been established in 2002 but currently remains dormant.

"The statute, as it exists in law, is dormant.  Some folks have sought to reactive it, some think it's reactionary," said Aponte. "And some want it addressed through the Community Safety Act (CSA)." 

"Much of what was proposed in the CSA was enacted through the state's racial profiling bill that passed," said Aponte. "What remains are some more contentious parts, that have been difficult to get consensus around, including questions about groups who want a say over the budget, including federal monies, and that doesn't work."

"In order to restore PERA, there would have to be a proposal to reenact the ordinance, and for the Council to make the appointments and fund some of the resources. There are three positions in PERA -- a Director, an Investigator, and clerical support. So it would mean having the will to put the dollars behind it," said Aponte. "What we didn't want to do was offer PERA as a concession or compromise, that's where we found ourselves. I'm a supporter of PERA, I was part of the original group that pushed it forward over ten years ago now. What was called for in the CSA was much more rigorous than what PERA was constructed to do."

"In the instance of this video, PERA would have the authority to look into it, if that person filed a complaint for police misconduct," said Aponte. "The one issue we came up against in the law enforcement bill of rights, as to how discipline is handed out."