Council President Matos Issues Subpoena to the Commissioner of Public Safety

The subpoena would require the Commissioner to hand over all relative video footage regarding the investigation of Sgt. Joseph Hanley to the Providence External Review Authority

PROVIDENCE, RI (July 14, 2020)… At the formal request of PERA Executive Director Jose Batista, City Council President Sabina Matos (Ward 15) has called for the City Council to issue a subpoena to the Commissioner of Public Safety Steven Paré requiring him to hand over all body camera footage in the investigation of Sgt. Joseph Hanley to the Providence External Review Authority (PERA). The call for a subpoena will be voted on by the full council at Thursday’s meeting.

“Last week PERA held a meeting relative to the ongoing investigation into the alleged assault of a Rishod Gore, who was handcuffed at the time of the alleged assault, by Sgt. Joseph Hanley” stated Council President Sabina Matos. “The Public Safety Commissioner refused to allow PERA access to the body camera footage despite PERA being empowered by ordinance to oversee these types of internal investigations. This subpoena will now require that this footage be handed over to PERA so that they may do their due diligence as part of their review.”

On April 19, 2020, police were dispatched to a domestic dispute call on Knight Street that led to the arrest of Markese Davis and Rishod Gore. Once Gore was apprehended and handcuffed, it is alleged that Sgt. Hanley struck Mr. Gore several times. On July 8, 2020, Mayor Elorza released a statement that the City was working with the State’s Attorney General to charge Mr. Hanley and to terminate his employment with the City of Providence Police Department.

Section 18 ½ – 2 (h)(2) of the Providence Code of Ordinances establishes the procedure by which the Executive Director of the Providence External Review Authority may petition the City Council to issue a subpoena in order to assist in an investigation. Section 402 of the Providence Home Rule Charters allows for the Council President and the City Council to issue subpoenas, and in this case it allows for a subpoena for records in the possession of the Commissioner of Public Safety related to this ongoing matter.

For more information, visit our website: council.providenceri.gov