Alleged threats cost Ciccone his gavel

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - Embattled state Sen. Frank Ciccone has lost his leadership post in the wake of allegations he tried to intimidate Barrington police officers last week while they were in the process of arresting one of his most powerful colleagues.

In a hastily called State House press conference Wednesday afternoon, Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed announced Ciccone has agreed to step down as chairman of the Senate Committee on Government Oversight. He is also stepping down entirely from both that committee and the Senate Finance Committee.

Ciccone, D-Providence, will remain vice chairman of the Senate Labor Committee, Senate spokesman Greg Paré told WPRI.com. Until a new chairman of the oversight committee is named, Vice Chairman James Sheehan, D-North Kingstown, will be able to chair hearings, Paré said.

Paiva Weed met with Ciccone on Wednesday afternoon to share "my concern regarding the events of last week," she told reporters in a statement that lasted roughly 50 seconds. "He agreed the events were regrettable and he was contrite. After a brief discussion we agreed that the institution of the Senate is larger than any one individual."

"It is my desire to put these events behind us and focus on the work that needs to be done to move Rhode Island forward," Paiva Weed said. When reporters began shouting questions as she started walking back into her office, she said: "At this time I would prefer not to make any further statement."

The controversy stems from Ciccone's actions during the arrest just after midnight on March 28 in Barrington of Senate Majority Leader Dominick Ruggerio, who admitted to refusing a breath test in court on Tuesday. The drunk-driving charges against the No. 2 senator were dismissed Wednesday.

Ruggerio's license was revoked for six months. He was also ordered to serve 10 hours community service and pay a $200 fine. Paiva Weed did not mention Ruggerio in her comments to reporters on Wednesday and he is not expected to lose his leadership position.

"I accept full responsibility for my actions last week," Ruggerio said in a new statement issued late Wednesday afternoon. "I am putting this incident behind me, and I look forward to continuing to focus on the many important issues facing our state."

Barrington police officers were in the process of giving Ruggerio a field sobriety test after a 911 caller reported he was driving erratically when, according to a police report, Ciccone approached the scene. Another report released days later revealed Ciccone threatened the officer with retribution.

"You think you got pension problems now?" Ciccone, 64, reportedly told Police Officer Michael Gregorzek as his fellow officer Walter Larson administered sobriety tests to Ruggerio. "Wait 'til this [expletive] is all done. This guy voted against you the last time, it ain't gonna get any better now."

At one point during the incident, Ciccone "recommended we call 'John' meaning [Barrington Police] Chief LaCross to let him know about the situation that had developed," Gregorzek wrote.

"Ciccone was calling numbers from his cell phone trying to contact the major of the State Police and every other person he could think of to deal with 'the problem,'" Gregorzek continued.

In a statement released last Friday, Ciccone disputed the contents of the police report.

"While the Barrington Police were at all times courteous and professional, I do not agree with the accuracy of some of the details in the report," he said. "However, I certainly regret anything I may have said Tuesday evening that was inappropriate." Ciccone has not issued a statement since then.

Ciccone was one of two senators who voted against last year's landmark pension overhaul. Ruggerio, D-North Providence, was a co-sponsor of the legislation, which included changes to police and fire retirees' benefits. Both senators work for the powerful Laborers International Union of North America.

Ciccone, who represents Senate District 7 in North Providence and Providence, was first elected in 2002. He had $14,877 in his campaign war chest as of Dec. 31. Ruggerio was arrested hours after he attended a fundraiser for Ciccone at the Rosario Club in Providence.

John Marion, executive director of good-government group Common Cause Rhode Island, told WPRI.com that stripping Ciccone of two key committee assignments should only be a first step by Paiva Weed.

"Common Cause is pleased that Senator Ciccone was held responsible for attempting to abuse his power as a state senator," Marion said. "We hope the Senate leadership continues to support accountability by letting the voters restore the jurisdiction of the Ethics Commission over the General Assembly this November."

Separately on Wednesday, Republican Brendan Doherty reversed course from earlier in the week and said he will return a $1,000 donation from Ciccone to his congressional campaign, saying the senator had shown "very poor judgment" in his interactions with police in Barrington.

North Providence Mayor Charles Lombardi, who was at the State House Wednesday on an unrelated matter, said he hasn't spoken to the lawmaker since last week's incident, but said: "I would probably tell Senator Ciccone he should be ashamed of himself."

Ted Nesi ( tnesi@wpri.com ) covers politics and the economy for W PRI.com and writes the Nesi's Notes blog. Follow him on Twitter: @tednesi

Nancy Krause, Sean Daly and Tim White contributed to this report.