The first, captured by local reporter Bill Bartholomew, shows off-duty Providence Police Officer Jeann Lugo allegedly assaulting Jennifer Rourke. This followed on violence perpetrated against Josh Mello, who was videoing a rally and was assaulted as he was being escorted away. Rourke is pressing charges, the Attorney General and the Rhode Island State Police are investigating, and Lugo is telling the press, through his lawyer, that further evidence will vindicate him.

Officer Lugo is currently on paid leave pending the resolution of the case.

The second video is from an unknown source in Newport and was shared by media outlet Newport Buzz. In this video a police officer can be seen allegedly tossing people around and slapping an onlooker who apparently got too close. Newport Police are investigating the incident.

These high profile incidents of apparent police violence, and the fact that officials in both Newport and Providence are restricted in what actions they can take and even in what they are allowed to publicly say, have renewed calls for the repeal of the Law Enforcement Officer’s Bill of Rights (LEOBoR).

The Black Lives Matter Rhode Island PAC issued a statement in response to the Jeann Lugo incident, saying:

“Over the course of the last year and a half, community organizations such as the NAACP and AFL-ClO, activists, and a wide range of elected officials including Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza and North Providence Mayor Charles Lombardi have advocated for the repeal of LEOBR, allowing for increased accountability to police misconduct. Despite this, the General Assembly ended their session yesterday without any legislative action being taken on the issue. Thus, the actions of Officer Lugo are a direct result of the irresponsibility of House and Senate leadership in neglecting to address police misconduct through the repeal of LEOBR.“

Harrison Tuttle, executive director of the BLM RI PAC, took to Twitter in response to the Newport Buzz video:

There have been calls from elected officials and candidates for office to repeal LEOBoR is response to these recent incidents:

So far, the General Assembly has not taken up legislation to repeal or reform LEOBoR very seriously. Bills to do so have died in both chambers, with votes on the floor or in committee.

Representative Anastasia Williams was pushing a bill to reform LEOBoR in the House. She released a statement following the incident involving officer Lugo.

“I denounce the violence perpetrated against women. I denounce the attack on First Amendment rights to protest unjust rulings and laws. I denounce the callous and cruel assault on a woman’s right to make their own decisions about their bodies. I denounce the agitators who went to the State House looking to start a fight. I denounce the political violence inflicted on another fellow woman of color. I denounce the current inequality of obtaining reproductive health services for ALL women. I denounce the current culture that leads law enforcement officers to think they could assault not only a woman, but also innocent people – predominantly of color, always in front of an audience, without accountability or the professionalism the job stands for and requires. And I denounce the hate and intolerance that is tearing our society apart here in our state. Yet, in the face of these challenges and threats, I will keep fighting for equality and justice for all because everyone deserves a voice, and a choice, to lead their own lives without interference and persecution from the ignorance of others.”

As for Jeann Lugo being on paid leave, this isn’t unusual or even the most egregious case. Providence Police Sgt. Joseph Hanley is still on paid administrative leave, two years after his arrest, prosecution and conviction for assault.

Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee opined that if the charges against Officer Lugo stick, he should be disciplined and fired. Governor McKee has no supervisory powers over municipal law enforcement and therefore is free from the restraints of LEOBoR. If Officer Lugo were a state police office, LEOBoR would apply and the Governor would have been silenced.