Incident sparks investigation of West Warwick football players. Here's what we know.
An investigation is underway in West Warwick involving players on the high school football team.
In a statement to The Providence Journal, West Warwick Schools Supt. Karen Tarasevich wrote that she received information on Nov. 10 about an alleged incident involving football players, and the School Department contacted both the West Warwick Police Department and the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth & Families.
The superintendent did not describe the incident but a report by NBC 10 citing a letter from Tarasevich to a West Warwick parent stated that seven students had been suspended from all football-related activities because of a possible violation of the school's anti-hazing and/or anti-bullying policy.
"The school district’s attorney engaged the services of an outside, independent investigator toconduct a thorough investigation of the alleged incident," Tarasevich's statement to The Journal said. "The independent investigator has commenced the investigation. At this point, the investigation is ongoing and there has been no final determination of the alleged allegation. There has been no final determination orconsequences assigned related specifically to the outcome of the investigation. Once the outside investigator makes a determination, if any consequences are deemed appropriate, that will be addressed at that time."
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A meeting for parents is set to take place Thursday evening.
"The safety and security of the children who attend West Warwick Public Schools is ofparamount importance," Tarasevich wrote. "I want to assure the entire West Warwick school community that asthe Superintendent of West Warwick Public Schools, I take any allegations of misconductextremely seriously."
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West Warwick's football team (5-2 in regular-season league play) lost its semifinal matchup to Middletown last Saturday. The Wizards are scheduled to face Coventry in their annual Thanksgiving Day game next week.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Incident sparks investigation of West Warwick football players
