Helen Ricci v. Rhode Island Commerce Corporation

Syllabus

The defendants, the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation, the Rhode Island Airport Corporation, the Rhode Island Airport Police Department, Dennis Greco, and Iftikhar Ahmad, appealed from an order of the Superior Court granting<br>declaratory and injunctive relief in favor of the plaintiff, Helen Ricci. On appeal, the defendants contended that the hearing justice erred in finding that Ms. Ricci was a \law enforcement officer\ as defined by G.L. 1956 § 42-28.6-1(1) of the Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights (LEOBOR) and was therefore entitled to the protections afforded by that statute.<br><br>The Supreme Court held that Ms. Ricci was a \law enforcement officer\ as defined by the LEOBOR statute and thus was entitled to the protections afforded by that statute. In addition, the Supreme Court vacated the Superior Court's order<br>granting injunctive relief to the plaintiff and remanded the case to the Superior Court with instructions that it order compliance with the provisions of § 42-28.6-4 and restoration of Ms. Ricci's salary and benefits to the status quo ante. At the same time, the Supreme Court vacated the mandatory injunction that was previously granted (and subsequently stayed) by the hearing justice.