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January 23, 2008

Retirement board to get opinion on Prignano pension

PROVIDENCE -- A lawyer hired by the Providence Retirement Board is scheduled to give his recommendation today on whether the $64,620 pension of former police chief Urban Prignano Jr. should be reduced or eliminated because of his admitted role in a Police Department promotional test cheating scandal.

The lawyer, Vincent F. Ragosta Jr., concluded a hearing on the issue last month.

Prignano, 65, who was police chief under former Mayor Vincent A. Cianci, Jr., retired under pressure on Jan. 31, 2001, wrapping up a 34-year career.

When he retired, he cashed out his contributions to the municipal retirement system, including accrued interest, and took a reduced pension as a result. He has been collecting his pension for seven years.

Prignano has admitted in sworn testimony in federal court and in interviews with the FBI that he helped some subordinates cheat on their promotional examinations during his six years as chief.

A municipal ordinance requires an employee to give “honorable service” in order to receive a pension. Mayor David N. Cicilline, and the Police Department, under Chief Dean Esserman, are pressing for revocation of the pension.

Posted by Jack Perry  at 1:02 PM | Permalink

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