Former Tiverton SRO charged following accusations of using Taser on school grounds

TIVERTON — Tiverton School District’s former Student Resource Officer was charged with three misdemeanors this week, accusing the officer of misusing his department-issued taser at school events last fall.

Officer Jacob Rapoza was arraigned on Wednesday on two counts of disorderly conduct and one count of simple assault. According to the affidavit, Rapoza activated his Taser, causing it to spark, just before a “Signs of Suicide” school assembly on Sept. 30. The affidavit also alleges Rapoza pointed and activated his Taser in the area of a Tiverton High School guidance counselor during a school-sponsored football game in October.

Rapoza was suspended from his duties on Dec. 23 following comments he left on a student’s Instagram depicting a senior prank in which the students decorated the officer’s office door.

Previous coverage:Tiverton school resource officer put on paid administrative leave

In his comments, Rapoza told the student the prank was vandalism and questioned whether the student should “really be messing with someone who can deck your driving record with citations,” which some parents who responded to the message on Instagram took as threatening.

Rapoza has since been released on a personal recognizance bail of $1,000 with a non-domestic no contact order attached as a condition of his release.

Chief Patrick Jones did not respond to requests for comment Thursday, however, he noted in the past that he cannot comment until after a decision is rendered by a hearing committee due to the Rhode Island Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights.

School safety:Tiverton School Committee to address school safety: Here's what to know.

Tiverton Police Department has since established a new SRO to serve Tiverton schools. Officer Jacqueline Smaldone was first hired as a Tiverton Police Officer in 2021.

This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Tiverton SRO removed from high school, facing multiple charges