Rhode Island news | projo.com | The Providence Journal

« Driver changes plea in crash that killed 16-year-old | Today | Governor to sign $6.9B state budget tomorrow »

June 25, 2008

Board votes to revoke former chief Prignano's pension

The Providence Retirement Board this morning voted to revoke the pension of retired police chief Urbano Prignano Jr.

The revocation was based on Prignano's assumed "dishonorable service," because Prignano has admitted helping officers cheat on their promotional exams.

Prignano is collecting $66,560 a year. His pension has been an issue for the board for six years.

Lawyer Vincent A. Ragosta, Jr., who was hired to gather evidence against Prignano, advised the Board at a meeting at City Hall that they had the power to make the final decision, but that "out of an abundance of caution" the board should petition the Rhode Island Superior Court to implement the revokation.

The board then voted to accept Ragosta's recommendation and sue in Superior Court.

Prignano will continue to collect payments while the Superior Court considers the lawsuit.

-- Journal staff writer Gregory Smith

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

Prignano implicated himself in some of the cheating in his testimony during the Operation Plunder Dome trial of Cianci and others in 2002. His testimony was among the evidence previously presented to the Board.

Prignano's pension has been an issue for years. In June of 2002, a month after Prignano's Plunder Dome testimony, a Retirement Board member began a move on the Board to revoke Prignano's pension.

A city ordinance says honorable service is a prerequisite to receiving a pension and, according to the interpretation of city officials, a lack of such service calls for the reduction or revocation of a pension.

Posted by Jack Perry at 11:55 AM | Permalink

June 25, 2008

Board votes to revoke former chief Prignano's pension

Comments

Post a comment