Crime & Safety
EMT License Suspended for Johnston Fire Captain
The state Department of Health suspended the license of Richard Turchetti after his Sept. 11 arrest.
The Johnston Fire Department captain arrested by North Providence Police in September has had his EMT license suspended, the state Department of Health announced.
Richard Turchetti, 45, may appeal the decision, according to the Health Department statement released Oct. 1.
According to the Providence Journal, Turchetti has not been suspended from his post with the local fire department. Quoting Fire Chief Timothy McLaughlin, the Journal reported that Turchetti is using sick time and has not returned to work since his arrest.
On Sept. 11, North Providence Police reported that they found Turchetti in the area of a known drug-dealing house in Greystone.
Turchetti told the officers that he had Suboxone, a prescription drug used to treat heroin addiction, in his car. According to the Department of Health statement, Turchetti also had two hypodermic needles, a spoon with white residue on it, and a small cellophane bag with a brown substance inside.
North Providence police also reported that Turchetti admitted to using heroin about a month earlier.
Officers charged him with felony drug possession, mislabeling prescription medication, and driving with an expired license. He is next due in court on Nov. 14.
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