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Chief Rattigan announces retirement-Providence
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Fire Chief James Rattigan announced on
Thursday plans to retire at the end of the month, just one week
following his unpaid suspension for an altercation with police
officers.
Last week, Rattigan was suspended for one week without pay,
after acknowledging an altercation with police officers.
Rattigan said the suspension played no role in his decision to
retire. He said it was a difficult decision that he had been
considering for some time.
"I've been thinking about retiring on my 30 year anniversary,"
which would've been in October, Rattigan said. "But then I
thought, why shouldn't I have the summer off for the first time in
30 years?"
He said he's had a great career with the fire department, but
"it's time for me to look for more challenges."
According to a police report, Rattigan threatened officers from
North Providence and used foul language while he was being detained
during an April 25 incident.
Rattigan apologized in a statement last week, saying he had
consumed a few beers and was walking toward his house when he was
confronted by two uniformed officers who were responding to a
report of inappropriate public behavior.
Providence Mayor David Cicilline said Rattigan was not asked to
retire.
"His retirement was his decision and he explained the reasons
... and I accepted those," Cicilline said.
The mayor would not speculate on whether the punishment played
into Rattigan's decision.
"I imposed a sanction that I believed was appropriate for that
event. Period," he said.
Rattigan, 51, said he would like to spend more time with his
family. The retirement will take effect before the end of the
month. Asst. Chief Gary Mulcahy will replace Rattigan until a
permanent chief is named.
Rattigan makes $104,683 annually, according to the city's
personnel department. He was appointed by former Mayor Vincent
"Buddy" Cianci Jr. in 1995.
In March 2000, Rattigan was charged with drunken driving after
he crashed a city-owned Crown Victoria. The Providence Journal
reported that the charge was later dismissed, but Rattigan had
declined to take a breath test. He was suspended for two months.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Thursday plans to retire at the end of the month, just one week
following his unpaid suspension for an altercation with police
officers.
Last week, Rattigan was suspended for one week without pay,
after acknowledging an altercation with police officers.
Rattigan said the suspension played no role in his decision to
retire. He said it was a difficult decision that he had been
considering for some time.
"I've been thinking about retiring on my 30 year anniversary,"
which would've been in October, Rattigan said. "But then I
thought, why shouldn't I have the summer off for the first time in
30 years?"
He said he's had a great career with the fire department, but
"it's time for me to look for more challenges."
According to a police report, Rattigan threatened officers from
North Providence and used foul language while he was being detained
during an April 25 incident.
Rattigan apologized in a statement last week, saying he had
consumed a few beers and was walking toward his house when he was
confronted by two uniformed officers who were responding to a
report of inappropriate public behavior.
Providence Mayor David Cicilline said Rattigan was not asked to
retire.
"His retirement was his decision and he explained the reasons
... and I accepted those," Cicilline said.
The mayor would not speculate on whether the punishment played
into Rattigan's decision.
"I imposed a sanction that I believed was appropriate for that
event. Period," he said.
Rattigan, 51, said he would like to spend more time with his
family. The retirement will take effect before the end of the
month. Asst. Chief Gary Mulcahy will replace Rattigan until a
permanent chief is named.
Rattigan makes $104,683 annually, according to the city's
personnel department. He was appointed by former Mayor Vincent
"Buddy" Cianci Jr. in 1995.
In March 2000, Rattigan was charged with drunken driving after
he crashed a city-owned Crown Victoria. The Providence Journal
reported that the charge was later dismissed, but Rattigan had
declined to take a breath test. He was suspended for two months.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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