A Tiverton, Rhode Island police officer faces a charge of child abuse, according to WJAR.
Tiverton Police Officer Jacob Rapoza was arrested Thursday in Warren on one count of second-degree child abuse involving a young child, police said.
“Mr. Rapoza was charged after the Warren Police Department conducted an investigation into a report of child abuse after a minor was taken to Hasbro Children’s Hospital for his injuries,” Warren police said in a statement. Press release.
No arguments were made at Rapoza’s arraignment Thursday in Providence District Court. He is scheduled to return to court next week.
Police said Rapoza also faces two counts of disorderly conduct and one count of simple assault in a separate case.
Tiverton police said in a statement that Rapoza has been suspended with pay since charges were filed in Newport in March 2023 in connection with that case. They said he will remain suspended without pay on the new child abuse charge.
Rapoza was fired as Tiverton’s school resource officer in December following allegations of misconduct, including allegations that he had threatened students on social media. Faculty members said he also stole a cot from the school nurse’s office and that he had been taking naps throughout the school day.
