Tiverton Fire Captain Committo suspended without pay

Disorderly charge dismissed

Posted 6/19/19

Statement by Tiverton Town Administrator Jan Reitsma regarding Tiverton Fire Department Captain Craig Committo

June 18, 2019

"As has been reported in the media already, Captain Committo was …

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Tiverton Fire Captain Committo suspended without pay

Disorderly charge dismissed

Posted

TIVERTON — Statement released Tuesday evening by Tiverton Town Administrator Jan Reitsma regarding Tiverton Fire Department Captain Craig Committo ...

"As has been reported in the media already, Captain Committo was involved in a physical altercation while on duty on June 1, 2019. As a result he was charged with disorderly conduct by the Tiverton Police Department. Family of the affected party filed a complaint with the Department but did not wish to file charges. The disorderly conduct charge was dismissed in District Court on June 13.

In the meantime, an internal investigation was conducted, resulting in disciplinary and corrective measures being imposed on the Captain. These include mandatory, written apologies, mandatory counseling, suspension without pay for one week, and a warning in the personnel file that any future occurrence of verbal or physical, abusive conduct will be ground for termination from employment. Captain Committo has acknowledged that his conduct was unacceptable, taken responsibility for it, apologized and accepted the discipline. Our new Fire Chief will be monitoring his progress.

This matter is not over and done with. The Town cannot and will not tolerate conduct of this nature, whether between employees or towards members of the public. We have an ongoing obligation to make sure this case becomes a lesson learned that helps prevent future incidents."

The arrest

Tiverton Police reported that Mr. Committo responded to the area of Narrangansett Avenue and Summit Avenue in Tiverton for a motor vehicle accident involving a motorcycle.

Officers also called a tow truck from Tiverton Auto Body, which arrived with two staff.

An officer reported that Capt. Committo began giving advice which the tow truck worker ignored. Police said Mr. Committo made jokes about how the staff member was handling the tow.

The tow truck staff member then said to Mr. Committo, "If you think you can do a better job, go ahead fat …”, police said.

At this point Mr. Committo stepped over the bent fence on the property and, in "an aggressive manner went to grab" the tow truck staff member "by the throat."

Officers separated the two. As they were doing so, Mr. Committo was heard by them to state that when he got off duty he would "finish it then."

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