RIAG, DOJ Reviewing Block Complaint Against Warwick

WARWICK, RI — Last week, the offices of Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha and U.S. Attorney Aaron Weisman acknowledged receipt of financial watchdog Ken Block’s complaint alleging Warwick officials applied punitive pressure after he uncovered the WFD’s sick time policy paying firefighters more than the City Council had agreed.

“It was one year ago today that my office building was the recipient of a fire inspection brought on by an “anonymous, non-specific complaint” – this happened right after I had helped expose some terrible finance situations at the Warwick fire department. The next day, Mayor Solomon came to my office to “get to the bottom of it”. He promised to get back to me – but never did. Then, I was visited by the Warwick tax assessor’s office. I am asking for investigations of abuse of power, intimidation and whether or not I was the victim of an illegal search. No government should act as the city of Warwick has acted,” Block wrote on his Facebook page Oct. 17.

“I can confirm that we received a copy of Mr. Block’s complaint yesterday and that we are reviewing it,” said RIAG spokeswoman Kristy dos Reis.

She said the office could not release a copy of the complaint, which she said concerns a criminal matter.

Weisman’s public information officer Jim Martin also confirmed receipt of the document, and said the DOJ is also reviewing it.

Mayor Joseph Solomon did not respond to a request for comment on the complaint.