Title 42, Title 42 Affairs and Government

(a) The accused law enforcement officer or the representative of the law enforcement agency may challenge the appointment of any member of the hearing committee for conflict of interest or other substantive grounds justifying disqualification of an appointment. Any challenge shal…

The hearing committee conducting the hearing may take notice of judicially cognizable facts and, in addition, may take notice of general, technical, or scientific facts within its specialized knowledge.

(a) The hearing committee shall be empowered by majority vote to sustain, modify in whole or in part, or reverse the complaint or charges of the investigating authority, as provided in § 42-28.6-4. (b) Any decision, order, or action taken as a result of the hearing shall be in wr…

(a) Appeals from all decisions rendered by the hearing committee shall be to the superior court in accordance with §§ 42-35-15 and 42-35-15.1. For purposes of this section, the hearing committee shall be deemed an administrative agency and its final decision shall be deemed a fin…

I. Suspensions — Summary punishment. (a) The provisions of this chapter are not intended to prohibit suspensions by the chief or the highest ranking officer of the law enforcement agency. (b) Summary punishment of up to five (5) working days’ suspension without pay may be imposed…

(a) No law enforcement officer shall be discharged, demoted, disciplined, or denied promotion, transfer, or reassignment, or otherwise discriminated against in regard to the officer’s employment or be threatened with any such treatment, by reason of the officer’s exercise of or d…

The remedies contained herein shall be the sole and exclusive remedies for all law enforcement officers subject to the provisions of this chapter. Provided that no collective bargaining agreement (CBA) or contract entered into or made effective thirty (30) days after passage shal…

No member of a hearing committee constituted in accordance with the provisions of this chapter shall be held civilly liable for any breach of his or her duties as such member, provided that nothing herein shall eliminate or limit the liability of a qualified member: (1) For acts …

If any provision of this chapter or other application thereof shall for any reason be judged invalid such a judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder of the law, but shall be confined in its effect to the provisions or application directly involved in the cont…

(a) The Rhode Island police officers commission on standards and training shall, no later than December 31, 2025, and annually thereafter by December 31, submit a comprehensive report to the governor, the speaker of the house, and the senate president regarding all hearings condu…

(a) Whenever a law enforcement officer is under investigation or subjected to interrogation by a law enforcement agency, for a non-criminal matter which could lead to disciplinary action, demotion, or dismissal, the investigation or interrogation shall be conducted under the foll…

No law enforcement officer shall be required or requested to disclose any item of the officer’s property, income, assets, source of income, debts, or personal or domestic expenditures (including those of any member of the officer’s family or household) unless that information is …

(a) If the investigation or interrogation of a law enforcement officer results in the recommendation of some action, such as demotion, transfer, dismissal, loss of pay, reassignment, or similar action which would be considered a punitive measure, then, before taking such action, …

(a) The hearing shall be conducted by the hearing committee selected in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. Both the law enforcement agency and the accused law enforcement officer shall be given ample opportunity to present evidence and argument with respect to the is…

(a) Evidence which possesses probative value commonly accepted by reasonable and prudent persons in the conduct of their affairs shall be admissible and shall be given probative effect. The hearing committee conducting the hearing shall give effect to the rules of privilege recog…

With respect to the subject of any investigation or hearing conducted pursuant to this section, the hearing committee may subpoena witnesses and administer oaths or affirmations and examine any individual under oath, and may require and compel the production of records, books, pa…

Witness fees and mileage, if claimed, shall be allowed the same as for testimony in the superior court. Witness fees, mileage, and the actual expenses necessarily incurred in securing attendance of witnesses and their testimony shall be itemized, and shall be paid by the law enfo…

Every party has the right of cross-examination of the witnesses who testify, and may submit rebuttal evidence.