NORTH PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Four police officers in Rhode Island are being investigated for making five boys do push-ups on the side of a street as punishment for damaging a mailbox.
Acting North Providence Police Chief Paul Martellini says a woman called police Friday to report her mailbox was damaged. Officers then pulled over a car full of teenagers.
Mayor Charles Lombardi tells WPRO-AM the officers thought the best way to reprimand them was for them to do pushups.
A neighbor videotaped the stop and posted it online. It was first reported by WJAR-TV.
Lombardi says officers took the law into their own hands and calls it unacceptable. He wants the officers suspended.
Lombardi tells the station, "You can't fix stupid. I think that's the only explanation here."
Martellini has ordered an internal investigation.
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