In the wake of the mistrial of current Providence Police Sergeant Hanley, the Black Lives Matter Rhode Island Political Action Committee (BLM RI PAC) calls on the Rhode Island General Assembly to prioritize introducing an amendment to House Bill 7263 that would allow LEOBOR trials to take place procedurally separate from an officer’s criminal trial. Such an amendment would prevent cases where taxpayers are burdened with funding health benefits for officers like Hanley unfit to serve on duty.

BLM RI PAC President Harrison Tuttle has released the following statement:

“Rhode Island remains one of the worst states in the nation in holding police officers accountable due to the protections afforded by Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights. In our discussions with legislators over the past year, we have highlighted cases that due to the special privileges afforded by LEOBOR, have remained shielded from accountability. Any legislation granting special privileges to law enforcement officers, allowing them to evade accountability while taxpayers foot the bill, is unacceptable. Any reform to LEOBOR should ensure transparency, accountability, and justice within law enforcement agencies.”

The recent developments in the trial of Sergeant Hanley underscore the urgent need for the Repeal of LEOBOR. The mistrial further highlights the inadequacies of LEOBOR and the systemic barriers it creates to justice and accountability. Rhode Island persists in its inadequate pursuit of law enforcement officer accountability, as evidenced by the systemic limitations imposed by the Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights (LEOBOR), which effectively insulates officers from the ramifications of their conduct.

The Black Lives Matter Rhode Island PAC (BLM RI PAC) is a political action committee created by young people of color in Rhode Island with the belief that representation is the best way for the government to serve the interests of its people. Right now, people of color are underrepresented across the state. BLM RI PAC seeks to change this by training, recruiting, supporting, and electing young people and people of color to of ices up and down the ballot.