Tiverton police report details Sousa gun saga

By Tom Killin Dalglish
Posted 6/17/16

TIVERTON —An incident report regarding Councilor Joe Sousa and his replica gun and motorcycle at Tiverton High School during the Financial Town Referendum, was released by Tiverton Police on Sunday, June 21.

The report narrative, written by Corporal Joseph J. Wieszbicki, [edited slightly to break the text in to shorter paragraphs] reads as follows:

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Tiverton police report details Sousa gun saga

Posted

TIVERTON —An incident report regarding Councilor Joe Sousa and his replica gun and motorcycle at Tiverton High School during the Financial Town Referendum, was released by Tiverton Police on Sunday, June 21.

The report narrative, written by Corporal Joseph J. Wieszbicki, [edited slightly to break the text in to shorter paragraphs] reads as follows:

“05/21/2016 1512I, Cpl Wieszbicki, was advised by Lt Costa that he had spoken with Chief Blakey. Chief Blakey advised that he had received a call from Town Clerk Nancy Mello, who told him that Councilman Joe Sousa was standing outside of the High School where the financial town referendum was being voted on, yelling into a Bull horn standing next to his World War II Replica Motorcycle and Replica world War II Rifle. The Chief stated that town Clerk Mello had said that Councilman Sousa was well outside the 50 ft area that he needed to be away from the school but requested that we check on him.

I was aware that Councilman Sousa had his replica World War II firearm and Motorcycle with him last year at the Financial Town Referendum at the High School and he was asked to put the Replica firearm away as town residents had felt intimidated by it and also that there was a zero policy for firearms or firearm replicas on school grounds. Councilman Sousa had complied with the request at that time and removed the replica firearm from school grounds.

Dispatch had advised me prior to arriving the high school that they had received a complaint from a Jennifer Rashleigh advising that she was at the High School to vote and that there was a Subject there with a military type gun and that she felt very intimidated and asked that the gun be removed.

Upon arrival to the scene I observed Councilman Sousa Standing on the Grass at the edge of the Parking lot on the North side of the School. Councilman Sousa was talking to voters on their way into the high school to vote through a non electronic bull horn. It should be noted that Councilman Sousa was well outside of the required 50 ft boundary from the school building. I also observed that he was standing next to a Camouflage WW II Replica motorcycle and next to the Motorcycle was Green wooden replica of a WWII M-1 Garand rifle which was barrel down mounted on a flat piece of plywood. I advised Councilman Sousa that we had received a complaint about his yelling through a bull horn which appeared to be a non issue. I further advised that we had received a complaint about the replica gun. Councilman Sousa advised that it was a wooden replica of a gun and that the Veterans who saw it seemed to enjoy it. I advised him that I could appreciate that the veterans liked the display but there were voters at the Financial referendum who felt intimidated by the gun being there. I told Councilman Sousa that I felt that this was not the place for a Replica firearm to be displayed. I advised Councilman Sousa that the replica firearm was an issue at last years Financial Referendum and he was asked to remove the Replica rifle, which he did. I further advised Councilman Sousa that the School had a zero tolerance for firearms or replica firearms on school property.

Councilman Sousa stated that he had gotten Legal advise about the replica firearm and he was told that he was well within his right to have it there. I advised that I disagreed with him and again reiterated that this was not the place to display the replica firearm that some voters felt intimidated. I again asked him to remove the replica from the area at which time he stated "what are you going to do arrest me if I don't remove it"? I advised Councilman Sousa that I was not going to arrest him however I would remove the replica firearm from the school grounds if he didn't. Councilman Sousa then stated "I'm not removing it, I'm not backing down from you guys this year". I at this time picked up the Replica Firearm and Base and began to walk to my cruiser with it. At this time Councilman Sousa yelled "I'm calling the ACLU on you". "The only reason your doing this is because you don't like my budget". I then returned to the station with the replica firearm where I seized it for safe keeping.”

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