2 East Providence Police Dispatchers Arrested

EAST PROVIDENCE — Two East Providence police dispatchers were arrested on by Rhode Island State Police Major Crimes Unit on Thursday and accused of using law enforcement databases for non-law enforcement purposes.

Police said former East Providence police dispatcher James Miller, 61, asked current dispatcher Louis Gelfuso, 51, to run the license plate of an unmarked state police vehicle in October to obtain the registered owner's information.

Investigators found two invalid inquiries on the vehicle's license plate for registration data through a dispatch console within the East Providence Police Department, police said.

Inquires on vehicle registration information are conducted through the Rhode Island Law Enforcement Telecommunications Systems and National Law Enforcement Telecommunications Systems, which are used by local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to share data. Both men violated the agreements they signed when they were hired by using the systems for personal reasons, police said.

Miller and Gelfuso were charged with soliciting another to commit a crime, conspiracy and access to a computer for fraudulent purposes. Both men were arraigned and released on $10,000 personal recognizance bond.