A three-member disciplinary panel has ruled that Providence Police Sgt. Joseph Hanley can return to duty after serving a 45-day unpaid suspension, more than six years after he was recorded kicking and punching a handcuffed suspect on the ground. The panel voted 2-1 to credit Hanley's prior suspension rather than fire him, even after finding him guilty of four administrative violations — up from three in an earlier ruling.
The case traces back to April 19, 2020, when police body cameras and a bystander recorded Hanley repeatedly kicking and punching Rishod Gore, then a 28-year-old Black man, while Gore lay handcuffed on the ground in Providence. Hanley was heard calling Gore an animal and a savage during the encounter, according to the Brown Daily Herald. A 2021 bench trial found Hanley guilty of simple assault and battery, with Judge Brian Goldman calling his testimony an “utter fabrication,” as reported by wpri.com.
Hanley later accepted a plea deal, pleading no contest in Superior Court on Dec. 6, 2024, in exchange for one year of probation. Under Rhode Island's Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights, the city of Providence could not fire Hanley without approval from a disciplinary panel of three current or former officers.
Two Panels, Two Rulings, Same Outcome
A first LEOBOR panel met in 2025 and found Hanley guilty of three out of 10 violations, ruling that he should be suspended for 45 days rather than fired. Providence appealed that decision, and Superior Court Judge Brian Stern later threw out the panel's ruling, citing multiple legal errors, per the same wpri.com account.
The case went back before a second panel, made up of two current and one former police officer, which found Hanley guilty of four violations this time — one more than the first panel — but reached the same conclusion: a 45-day suspension rather than termination. The panel voted 2-1, with Providence Commander Timothy O'Hara casting the sole dissenting vote and arguing Hanley should be fired, the station's report notes.
City Vows Another Appeal as Costs Mount
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said the city plans to appeal the ruling, maintaining that Hanley's termination is necessary to uphold department standards. Hanley will remain suspended with pay while that appeal proceeds, the same outlet reports. The city has already spent almost $400,000 in legal fees fighting to keep Hanley off the force, according to NBC 10.
Hanley's attorney, Michael Colucci, said his client intends to return to the job and does not plan to retire. The department was ordered to resume Hanley's integration and onboarding process within 10 days of the ruling. A dispute over whether Hanley is entitled to nearly $500,000 in accrued back pay has also surfaced, according to a separate wpri.com report.
Reform Came Too Late for This Case
Rhode Island reformed its police bill of rights while Hanley's case was ongoing.
None of that applies to Hanley. Because he was charged before the reform took effect, his case has been governed throughout by the older LEOBOR guidelines, the Globe reported.
