Crime & Safety

ACLU Files Open Records Request over Ticket Blitz

Request focuses on police captain and union president's use of personal cell phone the night of the "ticket blitz."

The state Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union announced they have filed an open records request with the Cranston Police Department "in an effort to determine whether the decision by a police captain to engage in blitz ticketing of overnight parking violators, after the Cranston City Council voted down a proposed union contract, was done through official channels."

In a release, Steven Brown of the ACLU said they requested any police radio conversations or calls made by Capt. Stephen Antonucci, the president of the Cranston police union between Nov. 13 and 16 relating to the issuance of parking tickets.

The ACLU also requested departmental policies governing the use of police officers' use of private or personal cell phones for law enforcement activities and any memos, orders or other documents issued by Antonucci between Jan. 1 of 2013 and Nov. 16 relating to the enforcement of the city's overnight parking ordinance.

The requests are based on multiple reports and anonymous tips that Antonucci issued the directive to ticket areas in Wards 1 and 3 the night of the so called ticket blitz while using a personal cell phone.

Antonucci, through the police union's lawyer, acknowledged giving the order but said the timing of the ticketing in Wards 1 and 3 was coincidentally the night the two City Councilmen for those wards, Paul Arcehtto and Steve Stycos, rejected a new police contract at a Finance Committee Meeting.

"The ACLU believes the records will help clarify exactly how the ticketing happened and whether it was done in accordance with departmental policies," Brown said.  "The agency has ten days to respond to the request under the open records law."

See, from earlier today: 

Police Union Lawyer Says Ticket Blitz was Conicidence, not Retribution


For complete coverage of the issue, see:

Police Chief put On Paid Leave

State Police are conducting a broad review of the department's operations in the wake of an overnight parking ticket scandal.

Councilmen Say Their Wards Mass-Ticketed in Retaliation for Police Contract Vote

After voting against a new police contract, Councilmen Steve Stycos and Paul Archetto say their wards were targeted by a rash of tickets in retaliation.

Find out what's happening in Cranstonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Fung: "I Do Not Condone Any Type of Intimidating Behavior"

Cranston Mayor Allan W. Fung has responded to allegations of abuse of power at the Cranston Police Department over a flurry of parking tickets that two city councilmen say were issued in retribution against their votes.

Map of Tickets Appears to Support Councilmens' Claims

According to this map of addresses where tickets were issued in the hours following the contract vote, there appears to be plausible evidence to support those claims.

Were you ticketed? Here's the List

Look closely and click "download PDF" next to the image to check out the addresses.

Fung Taps Independent Investigator to Review Police Ticket Blitz

Cranston Mayor Fung announced that he has hired a private investigator to review the police department's own internal review of "allegations of improper use of police authority," according to a release.

ACLU Says Review of Ticket Blitz Investigation Doesn't go Far Enough

The RIACLU is asking Cranston Mayor Allan W. Fung to launch a full-scale independent investigation.

Find out what's happening in Cranstonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.


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