Charlestown, Boston

A Charlestown, Rhode Island police officer did not activate his body-worn camera before firing his weapon during the June 15 arrest of 23-year-old Jonathan Vasquez, according to police. Officers said Vasquez drove the wrong way and struck a cruiser attempting to stop him, prompting an officer to open fire. Body camera footage from another officer captured gunshots in the background before the involved officer's own camera came on.

Rhode Island's statewide body-worn camera policy, adopted in 2022, requires officers to activate cameras during enforcement activity, pursuits, and calls for service. Attorney General Peter Neronha said discipline for violations is left to individual police chiefs, since the state sets no specific penalties. Charlestown Police Chief Michael Paliotta said his department will review the incident after the Attorney General's Office and State Police complete their investigations. The ACLU of Rhode Island criticized the recurring pattern of officers failing to record use-of-force incidents. Vasquez faces reckless driving and DUI charges, with a competency hearing scheduled for October 14.