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October 20, 2006

3 ACI officers seek temporary hold on dismissals

PROVIDENCE – Three correctional officers at the Adult Correctional Institutions facing termination by their employer as of tomorrow are in court today seeking a temporary restraining order to halt the dismissals.

Superior Court Judge Stephen Fortunato has ordered both sides back to his courtroom at 2 p.m. today, following arguments in court this morning, according to Richard Ferruccio, president of the Rhode Island Brotherhood of Correctional Officers, the union that represents the three correctional officers.

The three -- Capt. Gualter Botas, 38, of 186 School St., Pawtucket; Lt. Kenneth J. Viveiros, 54, of 211 Woonasquatucket Ave., North Providence; and Officer Ernest Spaziano, 38, of 50 Whipple Rd., Burrillville – were fired by ACI Director A.T. Wall after an internal administrative hearing found "numerous violations of departmental policy," ACI officials said earlier this week.

Multiple assault charges by the state police are pending against the three in District Court in Providence.

Today, Ferruccio said the union believes the three deserve to have those charges handled in court before Wall makes a decision about the officers’ employment status.

"The brotherhood’s position is that they should have the same opportunity for due process that’s granted to every inmate behind the walls of the ACI," Ferruccio said. “And they, unfortunately, haven’t had that."

-- Kate Bramson, projo.com staff writer

Posted by Sheila Lennon at 12:18 PM | Permalink

Comments

Was the inmate a convicted child molester?In the reality that is inside a correctional institution this is to be expected.If the inmate were to be in general population he would have been assaulted(or worse)by inmates.Protective custody is meant for these types of societal rejects!

Jerry Salvail | October 20, 2006 2:57 PM link

C,mon...you make an inmate eat his own body waste,and you think u deserve to have the union back you up thinking you deserve a fair hearing just like the inmates behind the bars?Why because you pay union dues? Your right you do deserve just what the inmate recieved.A little snack in a cell with four or five guys holding you down.Your union should be ashamed to represent you.

sandie | October 20, 2006 4:03 PM link

I think that everyone must realize that the Union certainly does not support, condone or defend such actions, if said actions did actually occur. Whether these actions actually did occur has not yet been proven nor disproven, and the Union is merely stating that "due process" must be given to these officers in order to get to the truth.
Public perception is everything, and certainly this had given the Brotherhood a "black eye" so to speak, but everyone is entitled to "due process" of law. That is the only argument that they are making at this time and should not be confused with the Union supporting the alleged actions of the accused officers.

Mark | November 10, 2006 7:08 PM link

They do not deserve special treatment at all. As
a former corrections officer in another state I understand it all. They went way too far and shamed the profession.

Alicia | November 14, 2006 8:02 AM link

those 3 should be fired and sent to prison they are not any better than the inmates. shame on them
they think they are above the law and for the union shame on you.......

josie | November 15, 2006 9:24 AM link

October 20, 2006

3 ACI officers seek temporary hold on dismissals

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