NP push-up probe comes to a conclusion

NORTH PROVIDENCE, RI (WPRI) - North Providence police have completed their investigation into the actions of 3 of the 4 officers who were said to be involved in the decision to tell 4 teenagers to do push-ups on a sidewalk after they were pulled over during a vandalism investigation.

The teens were never charged and the town’s acting police chief sites Rhode Island's Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights for not being able to comment on what will happen next.

“I cannot comment any further on this case,” Paul Martelline told Target 12.

The incident happened on November 23, the day after Thanksgiving. Police said 18 year old Richard Marchione was driving the vehicle that was pulled over on Mark Drive. Police were investigating an incident on Springdale Avenue where investigators say a reflector stick was used to hit and cause minor damage to a mailbox. The resident did not press charges according to police.

The police report narrative included direct quotes from officer Luis Rivera who wrote that he told the teens 'they should engage in more physical activity to keep them busy and away from trouble.'

"I then told them to get in the push-up position and give me some push-ups," Rivera wrote in his report.

• PUSH-UP POLICE REPORT

The police report indicates Officer Jeremy Bibby, Officer Paul Swinson and Officer Christopher Cote were also involved in the case with Rivera. Police did not say if they are the four officers who were the focus of the investigation.

“He (Rivera) also asked them if they wanted their parents called,” Swinson wrote in his narrative. “They all said ‘no’. Some of them even stated ‘please no’.”

Swinson also wrote that the 5 teens thanked Rivera and said ‘what they did was stupid’. Officer Cote wrote the teens did 5 to 10 push-ups.

When the internal investigation began 2 months ago, Chief Martelline said if the officers were punished, the minimum per officer would be 2 days suspension without pay. Martelline would not say if the 3 completed investigations resulted in punishment

After the incident, Marchione’s mother had a mixed review of what the officers did.

“The cop did wrong but I’m glad he tried to teach my son a lesson," Corinne Marchione said. "Personally, I don’t think he should be suspended."

Martelline said the goal of the investigation would look into why there were four officers on one traffic stop that did not result in any charges, what the supervisors' orders were and whether or not everything was documented properly.

Mayor Charles Lombardi told Target 12 the push-up incident was especially troubling considering his effort to "clean up" his town's image following recent high profile crimes by town leaders.

Former police Chief John Whiting is facing a five year sentence with six months to serve for stealing money from a stripper in 2011.

Former council members Raymond Douglas and John Zambarano and North Providence attorney Robert Ciresi were all convicted of federal charges in 2011 following a bribery scheme.

Send your news tips to Walt Buteau at wbuteau@wpri.com and f ollow Walt on Twitter: @wbuteau