US police chief permitted to take Caribbean cruise while awaiting prison term

November 18, 2014 in International

ChiefJohnWhiting-1RHODE ISLAND (CMC) – A Rhode Island US judge has granted permission to a police chief to take a cruise to the Caribbean as he awaits Supreme Court intervention that would save him from a six-month prison term.

On Monday, the Attorney General’s Office confirmed that John Whiting received permission from the Rhode Island Supreme Court to stay at his Florida vacation home in Fort Myers and to also go on a Caribbean cruise this week.

Whiting was found guilty in 2012 of stealing money from a woman’s purse, after her car crashed during a chase in August 2011.

He was sentenced to six months in prison but was allowed to remain free on bail while he appealed.

The Attorney General’s office said they did not object to Whiting going on vacation because he had followed the rules of his release.

Whiting officially resigned as North Providence police chief last month.

The town’s Mayor, Charles Lombardi said the town was in the process of selecting a new chief.