Rhode Island
LEOBOR reform is long overdue. Why the General Assembly needs to act | Opinion
Andrew Dunphy is a retired federal agent and a second-year law student at Roger Williams University School of Law. He is a fellow with the American Bar Association Police Practices Consortium.
Two recent cases involving police officers should cause state legislators to question whether the Rhode Island Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights adequately serves its citizens. LEOBOR affords protections to officers accused of misconduct on duty, and at least 20 other states have versions of it.
The Rhode Island LEOBOR, among other provisions, limits how police misconduct information can be shared with the public and affords officers a hearing before a panel of active or retired police officers before any discipline greater than a two-day unpaid suspension can be imposed. Proponents view LEOBOR as necessary because of the stressful, split-second decisions officers are forced to make and the high stakes of those decisions. Critics say it shields police from accountability, protects them from meaningful discipline and places unnecessary restrictions on release of public information. Two recent Rhode Island cases exemplify their concerns.
More: Ex-RI state cop sues, saying he was wrongly fired amid mental-health crisis. What to know.
In 2018, a Woonsocket police officer was charged in Massachusetts with breaking and entering and assault with a dangerous weapon. In Massachusetts court, the officer admitted to the facts underlying those offenses. The court continued his case for a year, after which it agreed to drop the charges. Soon after the officer made his admissions in court, the City of Woonsocket terminated him. He appealed the termination, the panel of active and retired police officers sided with him, and a Rhode Island court found that Woonsocket violated the LEOBOR. In November 2023, the Woonsocket City Council agreed to pay the officer $500,000 to settle his legal claims against the city.
In 2021, an off-duty Pawtucket officer in his personal vehicle saw a teen speeding and followed him into a parking lot to have a “fatherly chat.” Not in uniform, the officer approached the vehicle with his weapon drawn. Afraid of an unknown man approaching with a gun, the teen backed away and allegedly bumped the officer with his car. The officer fired his weapon and struck the teen in the shoulder. Charged with assault with a deadly weapon, the officer testified during his trial that he fired in self-defense, and he was acquitted. Assistant Attorney General John Corrigan said the officer “was lying through his teeth” when he said he shot in self-defense.
In November 2023, the officer resigned from the Pawtucket Police Department as part of a negotiated settlement after the city paid him nearly $124,000. Acknowledging how unfair the decision appeared, Mayor Donald G. Grebien lamented that “going to LEOBOR” would likely have cost the city substantially more.
More: Providence police officer Lugo to keep his job despite efforts to terminate him
A number of other states are wrestling with the efficacy of LEOBOR laws. In 2021, Maryland became the first state to repeal its LEOBOR statute. Amid promises of LEOBOR reform, a proposal wound its way through the Rhode Island General Assembly early in 2023. Thought sensible reform by many, the bill nevertheless died in the House in June.
Law enforcement officers across the country serve honorably every day in an often dangerous and unpredictable environment. Mistakes can occur, and well-intentioned officers deserve protection. However, those who engage in criminal behavior are a blight on the profession and a danger to society. When LEOBOR protects them instead of holding them accountable, it has failed.
It’s time for the General Assembly to stop talking about LEOBOR reform and instead act on it.
The latest “Real Housewives” franchise is already facing a casting shake up.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 01: Liz McGraw visits SiriusXM Studios on April 01, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
“Real Housewives of Rhode Island” star Liz McGraw announced she is leaving the show after one season.
“I am full of gratitude for the amazing opportunity to appear on this show,” she wrote on Instagram on Wednesday. “As filming for season 2 begins, I have made the decision to take a step back and focus on my family, my work and my passions.”
McGraw continued, “The RHORI cast is an amazing group of women who have created something special. I’ll be watching next season and rooting for the continued success of this franchise.”
“For now, I look forward to enjoying this little corner of the world from the other side of the camera,” she concluded.
Bravo’s Andy Cohen was already ready to invite McGraw back writing in the comments, “The door is always open. Just sayin’!”
McGraw recently became a grandmother, going by the nickname “Gigi” after her stepdaughter Brianna McGraw, who she shares with husband Gerry McGraw, welcomed a baby girl.
THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF RHODE ISLAND — Season:1 — Pictured: Liz McGraw — (Photo by: Bronson Farr/Bravo)
“She is just pure love,” McGraw said on a recent episode of “The Real Housewives of Rhode Island After Show.” “You feel that energy when she’s in your arms. Gerry’s addicted to it.”
She added, “We pop in, we pop out, we bring gifts, [and] we spoil.”
Ahead of the debut “RHORI” season, Ashley Iaconetti told PauseRewind’s Kevin Zelman, “On ‘Bachelor,’ it’s about love and drama and on ‘Housewives’ it’s a little bit more about drama, that’s the big difference for me. It was a totally different experience.”
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A one season wonder.
Photo: Clifton Prescod/Bravo
Knowing the history of successful Real Housewives shows, one could have assumed that Liz McGraw’s life was going to play out on TV for the next 20 years, à la Lisa Vanderpump or Vicki Gunvalson. This is, however, not the case. McGraw, one of the breakout stars of season one of The Real Housewives of Rhode Island, is leaving after just one season, she revealed on Instagram today. “I’m full of gratitude for the amazing opportunity to appear on this show,” she wrote. “As filming for Season 2 begins, I have made the decision to take a step back and focus on my family, my work and my passions. The RHORI cast is an amazing group of women who have created something special. I’ll be watching next season, rooting for the continued success of this franchise. For now, I look forward to enjoying this little corner of the world from the other side of the camera.”
The so-called Weed Queen of Rhode Island was part of the glue that held the women of RHORI together. She knew the most cast members and would often counsel both sides of a fight. Throughout the season, she got into arguments with friends, including Kelsey Swanson, Jo-Ellen Tiberi, and Alicia Carmody. There is no confirmation as to why McGraw is leaving, but we know it was her choice. Real Housewives producer Andy Cohen commented, “The door is always open … Just sayin’!” on her going-away post. In the meantime, Jo-Ellen, you have even more show to carry.
Three generations of a family, including a two-year-old girl, have been killed during a driving lesson after their car plunged into a Rhode Island river.
Police received a report that a car had driven into the Seekonk River in Pawtucket on Sunday evening at the small boat-launching area, The Boston Globe reported.
After hours of searching for the submerged car, authorities pulled it out of the water Monday afternoon. The 45-year-old woman, a 22-year-old woman and the two-year-old girl inside the car were found dead.
Pawtucket resident Josue Gomez told The Globe it was his wife, Floridalma Arceno, their daughter, Linora Sucely Gomez, and their granddaughter, Ana Sofia Garcia Gomez, who were killed in the accident.
Gomez said Arceno was teaching their daughter how to drive with their granddaughter in the car when his wife called him in a panic and said, “‘It won’t brake, it won’t brake.’’
“It was the last thing she said to me,” he said.
Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves told reporters that a “Good Samaritan riding a jet ski in the vicinity heard the car enter the water and attempted to help,” The Providence Journal reported.
“While this was occurring, another individual called 911, and first responders were on scene within 3 minutes,” Goncalves said.
Gomez said he hurried to the boat ramp Sunday evening, but the car was already submerged.
Police tried to find the car, but suspended the search around 1 a.m. Monday due to poor conditions, according to reports.
The search resumed Monday morning, and by around 2:30 p.m. ET, a tow truck pulled the car out of the water.
“They were good people,” Gomez told The Globe.
The Independent has reached out to the Pawtucket Police Department and the Rhode Island Office of the State Medical Examiners for comment.
Authorities called it a “tragic accident,” and said there were no indications of foul play, according to reports.
“Preliminary findings suggest the vehicle was in proper working order,” Pawtucket Detective Sergeant Paul Trout said in an email to The Globe.
Pawtucket Mayor Donald R. Grebien called the incident a “heartbreaking tragedy” in a statement shared with the media.
“Our community mourns alongside them, and we want them to know they are not alone during this unimaginable time,” Grebien said.
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