WARWICK, R.I. (AP) - A Rhode Island Superior Court judge has ruled that the state agency that runs T.F. Green Airport mishandled the termination of deputy chief of the airport police and that they did not provide her a hearing under the state Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights.
Justice Alice Gibney found Thursday that former Deputy Chief Helen Ricci is entitled to reinstatement and back pay for wages lost, the Providence Journal reported.
The decision does not address if the Rhode Island Airport Corporation had a valid reason to terminate Ricci, only that the corporation did not follow the bill of rights law in doing so.
Ricci was terminated on Nov. 10 for “insubordination and other causes,” and filed a request for a hearing under the bill of rights law. A request that the airport corporation apparently never responded to.
According to court documents, the corporation said that at the time of her dismissal she was the highest-ranking officer and therefore exempt from the Bill of Rights law.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.