Tiverton school officer, already suspended over use of Taser, now charged with child abuse
Tiverton school officer, already suspended over use of Taser, now charged with child abuse The Providence Journal
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Police Officer Arrested for Second-Degree Child Abuse
A District Court judge jailed a suspended Tiverton police officer on Thursday after he was charged with second-degree child abuse.
Warren police arrested the officer, Jacob Rapoza, on the strength of a warrant stemming from injuries that sent a juvenile to Hasbro Children’s Hospital, according to Warren police Lt. Christopher Perreault. At the time of the arrest, Rapoza was out on bail for disorderly conduct and assault charges that Tiverton police filed against him in March.
Following his arraignment Thursday on the Warren police charges, Rapoza appeared before Judge Melissa Dubose in Providence District Court for a bail hearing related to the older charges out of Tiverton.
Dubose found Rapoza in violation and ordered him held without bail.
Warrant filed after juvenile was brought to hospital
A news release from Perreault does not describe the nature of the alleged child abuse in detail, saying only Warren police detectives investigated a report of child abuse after a juvenile was brought to the hospital.
They secured a warrant and Rapoza then turned himself in, it says.
An online court record says Rapoza is accused of carrying out the offense of second-degree child abuse on Wednesday.
Previous charges stem from allegedly misusing a Taser at a school
The earlier charges against Rapoza were filed on March 8 and stem from incidents in which he allegedly misused his department-issued Taser in school settings as a student resource officer, according to a report in the Newport Daily News.
On one occasion, the arrest warrant states Rapoza activated the Taser, generating sparks, just prior to a school assembly on Sept. 30, 2022.
The following month, court records say, Rapoza took out his Taser during a school-sponsored football game. He was near a Tiverton High School guidance counselor when he pointed and activated the device, it says.
Rapoza was suspended from his duties on Dec. 23, says the Daily News report.
Rapoza posted online about a prank at school
This was after he posted comments online in response to a prank, court records say, in which students had decorated Rapoza’s office door.
At the time, Rapoza asserted on Instagram that the prank was vandalism and questioned whether a particular student should “really be messing with someone who can deck your driving record with citations,” says the Daily News’ report.
As of Friday, Rapoza had an inmate ID at the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston. He was at the ACI’s Anthony P. Travisono Intake Service Center.
His next scheduled court appearance is Aug. 17.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- SDG 4: Quality Education
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
- SDG 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including among others through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship, and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development.
- SDG 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
- SDG 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Indicator for SDG 3.4: Number of cases of child abuse resulting in hospitalization.
- Indicator for SDG 4.7: Number of incidents of misuse of authority by school resource officers.
- Indicator for SDG 5.2: Number of reported cases of violence against children and juveniles.
- Indicator for SDG 16.3: Number of law enforcement officers charged with misconduct or abuse of power.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being. | Indicator: Number of cases of child abuse resulting in hospitalization. |
| SDG 4: Quality Education | Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including among others through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship, and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development. | Indicator: Number of incidents of misuse of authority by school resource officers. |
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation. | Indicator: Number of reported cases of violence against children and juveniles. |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all. | Indicator: Number of law enforcement officers charged with misconduct or abuse of power. |
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Source: providencejournal.com
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