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RI Ethics Commission to look into union complaint against DOC Director Salisbury

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RI Ethics Commission to look into union complaint against DOC Director Salisbury

PROVIDENCE – The state Ethics Commission on Tuesday voted to investigate the travel of new Department of Corrections Director Wayne T. Salisbury Jr. amid backlash from the correctional officers’ union.

The commission voted 7-0 to look into claims made by the Rhode Island Brotherhood of Correctional Officers that Salisbury traveled out-of-state during workdays and failed to report it on his Ethics Commission filing until June 5, after WPRI-TV reported on the union’s complaints.

The commission also agreed to determine if the complaint states facts that, if true, are sufficient to constitute violations of state ethics rules governing disclosure of travel by a public official or state employee. Salisbury had led the department as interim director since early 2023.

The union stridently opposed Gov. Dan McKee’s nomination of Salisbury as director, hitting the airwaves and media outlets to allege that a failure of discipline at the Adult Correctional Institutions under his interim leadership was compromising the safety of officers and inmates.

Nonetheless, the Senate resoundingly approved Salisbury’s nomination earlier this month, with his supporters crediting him with emphasizing rehabilitation and ensuring that inmates didn’t return after their release. 

What will the Ethics Commission investigate?

The trips at issue included visiting the British Consulate in London with corrections officials from Massachusetts and Connecticut, a correctional leaders association meeting in Washington, D.C. and new-directors training in California.

The travel costs, which were initially paid by external entities, ranged from $633 to $2,349, with $4,328 reimbursed by Salisbury, according to the ethics filing.

“Wayne Salisbury doesn’t have the character, judgment or integrity to lead the state corrections department. While our correctional officers are getting forced into overtime because of understaffing and working nonstop to keep drugs out of prisons, break up fights and address gang activity, which has all increased under Wayne Salisbury’s interim leadership, he’s flying to all corners of the world,” Richard Ferruccio, president of RIBCO, said in an email. 

Salisbury’s explanation

J.R. Ventura, Department of Corrections spokesman, said previously that it was unclear initially that the trips needed to be disclosed.

“Given that trips were reimbursed directly to the State of Rhode Island, it was unclear whether disclosure was required. As a result, notation of the trips was left off the financial disclosure statement. Upon receiving clarification and guidance from the Ethics Commission, the …. amendment has been filed,” Ventura said in a statement.

Ventura noted that Salisbury traveled London at the invitation of the British consulate at no cost to taxpayers, as it was paid in full by the British consulate. 

Ventura said Salisbury was able to advocate in person for funding for initiatives, such as modernizing its vehicle fleet and enhancing the programs offered through its Correctional Industries. Additionally, the department is pursuing national accreditation through the American Correctional Association, with over 600 standards that embody best practices, he said.

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