Providence police sergeant moved from unpaid to paid leave after assault case

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A Rhode Island Superior Court judge has ordered that Providence Police Sergeant Joseph Hanley, who pleaded no contest in the assault case involving a handcuffed man in 2020, has been moved from unpaid to paid leave.

Hanley was caught on cell phone and body camera video striking and kneeling on suspect Rishod Gore, sparking a years-long legal battle.

    •    In 2021, a district judge found him guilty of simple assault and sentenced him to probation and anger management.

    •    On appeal the case went to trial earlier this year and ended in a mistrial.

    •    Hanley later entered a no contest plea to the misdemeanor charge.

In July, a three-member panel ruled that Hanley could return to duty following a 45-day unpaid suspension from June 30 to September 3, after which he would be “reinstated and appropriately reintegrated into the Providence Police Department,” according to the decision. The city, however, announced his suspension would continue while it appealed the panel’s ruling.

This week, Judge Brian Stern ordered the city to reimburse Hanley for lost pay since September 3 and move him to paid leave. The bigger fight, whether Hanley is owed nearly $465,000 in backpay, remains unsettled.

A hearing is scheduled next to determine whether he can return to duty full time.